Imparting education is not easy!

You may have all the resources, you may be sincerely dedicating your time and seriously and honestly imparting literacy to illiterate poor people, but still you can fail in your goal of getting a group of illiterate people fully literate. In my case I have not failed but not succeeded completely. Since last four months I am trying to educate a group of women working as housemaids. These women are keen on getting literate and I am keen to get them literate. But its four months of teaching and learning each day for an hour totally free but they are showing very little progress. So many things serve as a hindrance. First, their poverty, it’s like a disease. Its woes divert their attention from studying. Second, children. It is very important to keep their children away from them while they are studying, which is rare to impossible if the child is a baby, else they can never concentrate. Third, family problems including their day to day fights with their husband if he is a drunkard. Fourth, they may start studying with enthusiasm but after a point lose interest. Here the role of a teacher is very important to maintain the zest level. Whenever I face such a situation I try to make them play number games and the winner gets a prize or give them some stories and ask them to read it. If done properly then I give them a gift like some artificial jewelry, utensils or eatables etc. Fifth, no time. They are so busy in their lifestyles and earning money that parting time for some homework given is hard for them. Sixth, they often fall ill due to bad living environment and food. With all these obstacles I am still trying to succeed in my goal of getting these women if not educated at least literate. I have one more month then I am going for a two months tour.