Education

BWDA strives to lead underprivileged students into the realm of education and to develop an equitable environment that fosters exemplary intellectual growth, thereby using education as a tool for poverty alleviation.

Vision

“A poverty free equitable society through educational inclusion/access to quality education for all”

Mission

  • Provide quality education that is affordable and removes disparity in access to education
  • Provide equal opportunities to rural children and youth for all-round development
  • Provide opportunities through scholarships and concessions for marginalized students to access quality education
  • Nurture the talent and creativity of our students and train them to apply their novelty and acquired knowledge to solve real-world problems
  • Produce highly competent, disciplined students in line with global standards capable of responding to changing scenarios and needs
  • Instill a strong value system and inculcate virtues of endurance, empathy, patriotism, integrity, honesty, compassion, and parental love
  • Inculcate good behaviour and etiquette in them to keep their spirits alive despite mechanization

Various initiatives and programs have been conducted by BWDA since its inception to create awareness about education and to educate underprivileged children of SHG members, bullock cart workers and labourers. 

BWDA Arts & Science College

BWDA Arts and Science College was started in June 2008 to address the disparity in access to educational facilities for the poor and lead the marginalized towards intellectual prosperity and thereby empower them. Our college seeks to provide educational inclusion for the downtrodden, marginal labourers, illiterate agricultural coolies and poor people from most backward communities who aspire higher education for their children. BWDA Arts & Science College seeks to develop an equitable environment that fosters exemplary intellectual growth and amplify BWDA’s vision of a poverty free equitable society by using education as a tool for poverty alleviation.

BWDA Arts & Science College is affiliated to Thiruvalluvar University and offers nine undergraduate courses and six postgraduate courses. The College is located in a quiet campus at Kolliyangunam, Mailam in Villupuram district. The college offers B.A. English, B.Com, B.Com (CA)., B.C.A. BBA, B.Sc. Physics, B.Sc. Chemistry, B.Sc. Mathematics, B.Sc. Computer Science, B.A.Economic, M.S.W, M.Sc Chemistry, M.Sc Maths and M.Com and M.Phil.  in English and Commerce.

BWDA Arts & Science College nurtures the talent and creativity of students and trains them to commendably apply their novelty and acquired knowledge to solve real world problems, thus augmenting their aptitude to perform in a competitive and challenging environment.

The College offers excellent IT-enabled infrastructure that includes modern laboratories, communications labs, virtual learning systems, a well-equipped library, classrooms, and conference halls. The college provides quality education at nominal fees, encourages the marginalized students to study with fee concessions and scholarships. The children of SHG members and bullock cart workers get a 25% college fee (if they scored 800 marks out of 1200 marks) and 50% hostel fee concessions.

As the majority of the students are very poor, they are unable to bring lunch. To address this, we have arranged for a ‘Mid-day Meal’ by collecting Rs.10/- per head per day. The College has well-appointed buildings of approx. 100,000 sq. and a well-furnished girls hostel of 12,235 sq. On-campus canteen and store cater to the needs of the students. 

BWDA Polytechnic College

To promote technical education among the marginalized students to enhance their job and self-employment opportunities, BWDA started a Polytechnic College on 27th July 2009 in the beautiful lush green pollution-free natural surrounding in Vendalicode, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. BWDA Polytechnic College seeks to develop an equitable environment that fosters exemplary intellectual growth and amplifies BWDA’s vision of a poverty-free equitable society by using education as a tool for poverty alleviation. BWDA Polytechnic College provides quality education at nominal fees, encourages the marginalized to study with fee concessions, and moulds the children of SHG members and bullock carters with leadership qualities.

Job oriented Diploma courses in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering

The College offers an excellent infrastructure that includes, communications lab, virtual learning systems, a well-equipped library, classrooms, hostels, and modern laboratories. The College provides technical education at nominal fees, bundled with fee concessions and scholarships. Students are given opportunities to organize and participate in various guest lectures, conferences, exposure visits, internships, cultural programs, and sports events to develop both academic and co-curricular skills essential to give them a competitive advantage.

BWDA Matriculation and Nursery Schools

BWDA initiated the Nursery & Matriculation School Programme in 2003 at Rasapalayam in Cuddalore district and Kolliyangunam in Villupuram district to impart quality English education to economically underprivileged children of SHG members and bullock cart workers. In 2008, BWDA established another Primary School at Kadampuliyur in the Cuddalore district. These schools educate more than 1200 students every year and children of bullock-carters and SHGs members get good fee concessions.

BWDA Community College for Dropouts

BWDA implemented the Community College Programme at Rasapalayam, Cuddalore district from October 2006 to May 2012 to enable underprivileged dropout and unemployed youth to continue their higher education at nominal fees and to facilitate employment and self-employment opportunities. The college offered diploma courses in Early Childhood Care & Education (DECE), Fashion Designing & Garments Making (DFGM) and Desk Top Printing & Publishing (DDTP) through Tamil Nadu Open University. The programme offered free certificate courses and diploma courses at 25% fee concession to children of SHG members and bullock cart workers along with placement facilities.

BWDA Summer School Programme

BWDA conducts a summer school program for children every year with a well-formulated curriculum in its adopted areas. Volunteers are selected and given orientation training to conduct classes in these schools. The duration of summer schools are 5 to 7 days. The summer school program imparts general knowledge, leadership skills, life coping skills, financial literacy, awareness about environment, health and sanitation, education, etc. through awareness songs, poems, and dramas. Children also express what they have learnt through cultural programs like dramas, dance, songs, rallies, etc. in their respected areas that create awareness among the local residents and gives the children an opportunity to expose their latent skills and enhance their creativity.

Adult Literacy Programmes

BWDA conducts Adult Literacy / Night School programmes in its adopted areas through educated animators and SHG members to empower illiterate SHG members as functional literates. This enables them to do their business successfully, earn their livelihood and protect themselves from deceitful dealings.

Arivoli Iyakkam

Tamil Nadu Government formulated the Arivoli Iyakkam to eradicate illiteracy. BWDA conducted rallies and Arivoli Classes in 27 places in Panagudi of Tirunelveli District. Similar programmes were implemented in Villupuram and Kancheepuram Districts.

SSA Education Programme

BWDA implemented the SSA Education Programme sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 2004-05 in 8 villages of Ollakur block, 10 villages in Annagramam and 15 villages of Panruti block in Cuddalore District to enable dropout students to continue their studies. The programme benefitted 850 dropout students.

BWDA Crèche for Poor Children

For the benefit of children of poor, sick, working women and SHG women, BWDA implemented the BWDA Crèche programme in Villupuram District from 2003 – 2012, supported by Tamil Nadu State Social Welfare Board. Through this programme, it has been imparting free nursery education, offering food and medical care to children. 263 poor children benefited through this programme.

Free Tuition Classes

BWDA conducted free tuition classes for school going children of its target population who find it hard to cope up with the curriculum before formal school started. The programme benefitted many children of SHG members and bullock carters benefitted.

BWDA Education Support Programmes

Fee concessions & Sponsorship

To promote school and higher education among the families of SHG members, bullock-carters, BWDA offers 10-25% fee concession to students belonging to SHG members and bullock cart workers’ families. BWDA arranges for educational sponsorship for the poor and the deserving students through its staff, Managing Committee, and well-wishers.

Midday Meal Scheme

As the majority of the students are very poor, they are unable to bring lunch. To address this, BWDA offers students a balanced nutritious mid-day meal for Rs.5. This scheme benefits 180-200 students every day.

Cash Award Programme

BWDA implemented this program from 2005 – 2009. Poor 10th std. students who scored 400 and above out of 500 marks and 12th std. students who scored 1000 and above out of 1200 marks belonging to SHG members’ and bullock-cart workers’ families received cash awards of Rs.1000 and Rs.2000 respectively, every year. 229 students benefitted from this programme.