Although national elections slowed all daily work, the dining hall continues to make steady progress. The walls are coming up.
The first group of girls is wrapping up its initial three months of instruction, and enthusiasm for the sewing program is growing quickly—the waiting list is already long! For now, classes will remain reserved for girls until everyone interested has had a chance to participate. Because boys can more safely pursue apprenticeships in public settings, we are prioritizing this opportunity for girls first.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” — Thomas A. Edison, American Inventor
Dear Friends,
It’s been an especially busy Spring in Gurap, and although temperatures are topping 100 degrees most days, our students show no signs of slowing down.
Our 11th graders returned to campus after their English intensive in Burdwan filled with gratitude, a new respect for focused academic learning and greater resilience—the result of facing so many challenges at once with strong support. The students navigated an entirely new learning environment—different living quarters and meals, new teachers and subject-specific English instruction. As they were saying goodbye, Fr. Maria Joseph asked them what they would do with their new skills when they returned to Gurap. Without missing a beat, they all replied: “Teach the younger students.” The spirit of helping one another is why we believe so strongly in the future potential of our school to make generational change.
Our 11th grade students’ first national exam scores are in. All of our students passed!
Our results were encouraging. Despite years of educational disruption, 9 of our 15 students scored within the average/moderate national range. Only 2 students scored below 50% in Bengali, and only 3 students scored below 50% in English, with several scoring in the high 70s and low 80s—despite this class having significantly interrupted Bengali instruction and virtually no formal subject-area learning in English. These results are promising for our future classes who are enjoying consistent, quality education—thanks to your support.
This is a strong place to begin, as our 11th-grade class is a hodgepodge of students of different ages and educational backgrounds who overcame tremendous odds and returned to school after the pandemic disrupted their education during the critical middle and high school years—yet they came back to school. That alone is a major achievement.
The exam results also highlight broader educational realities in India—as in the United States, standardized testing often reflects systemic inequality as much as individual ability. Students who do not have English-medium education, who live outside major cities or in remote rural areas, who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or who rely solely on public (government) schools all tend to score lower on national exams. Competition is also extraordinarily intense because of the sheer number of students taking the tests. For example, the difference between a 1220 and 1240 SAT score in the U.S. may not affect future opportunities at all, but a 20–30 point difference in India can substantially alter which higher education pathways are available to a student.
As I have always said, our Santal students are children—individuals with their own unique skills and affinities. Some of you may recognize Sourav from the photo above; he was the top scorer in geography. Sourav has consistently said he would like to become a pilot. I also noticed that 7 of our 15 students scored 80 or above (out of 100) in life sciences. I wonder if the children’s familiarity with farming/plants, livestock and ecological issues have helped to concretize these concepts? With access to a new modern biology lab and more hands-on learning opportunities, life sciences may become an area of real strength for our Gurap students!
Of course, technology, engineering, and medicine are highly competitive and sought-after fields of study in India and around the world. These test results also demonstrate our need to provide students with significantly more math and physical science education, including expanded hands-on learning opportunities in the form of chemistry and physics labs. A new physics teacher joined the team in Gurap just one month ago. We have prioritized these labs for the coming year. If you would like more information on a naming or dedication opportunity, please contact [email protected].
School is year-round in Gurap, so every day is a chance to offer life-changing educational opportunities to a group of children and families who have longed for an “infrastructure of opportunity” for a very long time.
We are so grateful to you, our dedicated supporters. Without you, the structures, facilities and resources would still be only wishes and ideas. Thanks to you, change is real and progress is growing.
Aima sarhau,
Annette
As the students returned to Gurap, a delivery of 200 books arrived on campus—including box sets of Harry Potter and Magic Treehouse, requested reference materials, and the Oxford Picture Dictionary (OPD). At the recommendation of an ESL teacher trainer, we have been using the OPD to spark conversation and strengthen the quality of our Zoom interactions.
Students from Tam High in Mill Valley, our high school intern from the East Bay, student leaders from the University of San Francisco, and one of Gurap’s beloved former volunteers from Germany have all been thoughtfully engaging with some of Gurap’s top students in grades 8–10.
Meanwhile, first-grade students at an international school in Houston have been regularly meeting on Zoom with our Class 5 and 6 students—reading picture books aloud and sharing their “All About Me” projects. It has been incredibly heartwarming to watch the confidence and growth of both the Gurap students and the young readers in Houston flourish through these exchanges. A true global classroom.
Although the program is currently on hiatus during exam season and summer break, we look forward to restarting at the beginning of the new school year. We welcome students and adults of all ages to join this joyful exchange of learning and connection.
Curious? Contact [email protected].
