To engage in advocacy is simply to participate in the democratic process and influence public policy. Dr. Ritu Sharma of the Academy of Educational Development states that advocacy is “the process of pulling the problem on the agenda, providing solution to the problem and initiating public support for the solution.”

Advocacy in Education is playing an increasingly important role in bridging the chasm between the needs perceived by the government and the ground realities of the stakeholders – the school, teachers, students and parents. Education reforms are catalysed when institutions and the citizenry collaborate to work towards change. An example of such a collaboration is the publishing of the draft New Education Policy where public feedback was gathered by the Ministry of Education (MoE) leading to the final version of the document. The Right to Information (RTI) act of 2005 is another classic example of the growth of advocacy and so are the forums involved in the Right to Education (RTE) act.

Aditi has been active in educational advocacy and outreach initiatives and influencing change in collaboration with other schools in Bangalore and outside. The school has been liaising with the government of Karnataka on matters of education. Reversing the ban on online lessons for students in the primary years in March of the academic year 2019-20 when the pandemic set in, was an example of such an engagement. As an extension of advocacy initiatives, the school also has its representation in Teachers Unite, an association of teachers with the vision of educating, empowering and enabling teachers pan India with a voice to impact policy and improving the quality of education in India. Current issues that may require advocacy intervention are the proposed reduction in school fees and the mandating of Kannada as a subject to be learned by all students irrespective of the affiliation to boards.

For more information you may contact:

Rekha Chari
Head, Advocacy & Outreach
rekha.chari@gsuite.aditi.edu.in