TWIN E-LEARNING PROGRAMME: SKILLS FOR EMPLOYABILITY OF THE UNDERPRIVILEDGED YOUTH IN MANIPUR

WHAT MAKES TWIN E-LEARNING PROGRAMME A BEST PRACTICE 

The Twin E-Learning Programme began in 2007. However within less than 11 months the Programme has successfully helped bring back the educated unemployed youths in the State to the path of hope. Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing the State. The problem is compounded by the fact that majority of the educated are unemployed.  

The Twin E-Learning Programme therefore aims at:

•  Develop the skills for employment or self-employment among the youths.

•  Thus besides providing guidance to the youths, the purpose is to improve economic opportunities in the State.

•  Consolidation of the strengths of the youths and the community to build a resilient workforce empowered to work towards their aspirations.

•  To check the migration of youths and able-bodied work force from the State by providing an alternative local employment/economic opportunities.

•  Overcome the sense of neglect and alienation felt by the people.

The Programme, therefore serves various purposes. Training in marketable skills, subsequent to basic education in general stream therefore, appears to be the only pragmatic approach for ensuring employment to under-privileged adolescent children who can (could) not afford to undertake higher, more relevant studies or acquire skills in sophisticated modern technology.  

On successful completion of the Programme, the Twin E-Learning Center maintains that   employment placements of the youth are ensured. The students enrolled for the Programme have gained confidence over time and have even begun to take active part in various state level programmes. The encouragement given by the Center saw the students hold an awareness camp on HIV/AIDS, to educate the people.

The success of the Programme in building the lives of the youths is validated by the fact that even though the Programme is only 11 months old, seeing the determination to win Microsoft from May 2008 has decided to provide maintenance of the Computer instructor, Mr. A. Kamei. Further, more students have enrolled for future programmes in the Center!

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROGRAMME

I.PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY THE PRACTICE

The main issue addressed by the Twin E-Leaning Programme is increasing unemployment among the youths in the State. The Programme provides an opportunity to develop the skills for employability of the youths. This ensures that the youths do not always have to look for Government employment, which is already strained.  Rather, by developing IT based skills and learning other management related skills the youths can look for employment in the newly emerging sectors in the state. Skills for entrepreneurship are also developed by the Programme. Moreover, the Center also enables access to knowledge, trade related support, economic opportunities at the local level and other requirements for employment. Importantly, the support provided by the Center is on a sustainable continuous manner. 

Capacity building of the youths for employment will check the growth of increasing unemployment in the State. By developing the skills for employability or for self-employment, the strain upon the State to create or open new avenues for employment will be relatively checked. Further, by providing support and encouragement to the Programme the State will be shown in a kind light. The sense of alienation felt by the people will also be checked. 

II.SOCIAL WELL BEING

The Twin E-Learning Programme is aimed at developing the skills of the urban poor youths, man and women. The skills imparted, whether English, Retail and Management, Basic Computers to the higher secondary level qualified youths to help earn a livelihood. Thus the Programme serves various social and economic purposes.
 

The focus is on developing the skills for employability and instituting a sense of self-reliance in the minds of the youths for a more prosperous and dignified living. Besides helping the youths build a life of dignity by helping them look for employment in the new emerging service sectors. The skills are imparted to the educated youths, who besides being educationally qualified have not been able to find employment for various factors. Being educated does not guarantee employment; hence capacity building of the youths with such skills is important.

The Twin E-Learning Programme therefore holds significant importance. Especially for the strife ridden state of Manipur, where the increasing rate of unemployed youths, both educated and uneducated has further fuelled discontentment against the State.

When asked Thabung Thangjam, what he would like to do after the completion of the Programme. He said that he would like to join the next batch of students and continue for another four to six months, as there is more to learn. Earlier working as a blacksmith, Thabung is now confirmed for internship at Eastern Motors. Besides he has the opportunity to start his own enterprise!

III. REPLICABILITY & SUSTAINABILITY

The Programme is successfully operating in 36 Centers across the country.

The successful replication and sustainability of the Programme however depends upon various factors: 

• Continuous fundraising from Organisations, Corporate Houses, Government and others.

• Commercial ventures, providing livelihood opportunities, which can be integrated at the Programme Centers.

•  Infrastructure or institutional support from various stakeholders in the society.

•  Individual sponsors or scholarships for the students.

•  Successful partnership for the Programme to be maintained at a cost effective and sustained manner.

For successful replication the Programme should also keep in mind the infrastructure or conditions, available locally.

IV. APPROXIMATE COST-BENEFIT ASSESSMENT

The Twin E-Learning Programme is established at the Government Polytechnic Center. Students coming from low family income houses and those who have dropped out of studies are not required to pay fees for the Programme. Comprising about 70% drop-out students and another 30% students, the Programme gives free acceowledge on English Proficiencylls, Computer Basics and Gender Issues. Besides, interactive sessions with industry experts, amongst the students and others help develop the confidence of the youths while the training in soft skills empowers the youths to face new openings in employment. The most beneficial component of the Programme however is the provision of job placement. 

All this comes at a free cost for the drop-out students and at a nominal cost of Rs.200 only from the other students.

V. PARTNERSHIP

Partnership is the key to the success of the Twin E-Learning Programme. Though Responsenet An Aidmatrix Initiative, is the implementing organization the successful operation of the Programme is because of fruitful partnerships with Smile Foundation, International Management Institute, Delhi, U&N Foundation, State Government of Manipur and assistance from the local people.

Working through a public-private partnership model (PPP), the Polytechnic Institute of the State is the site of the Programme. Particular mention must be made of Mr. Raj Chandra Singh, Controller Technical Education, Manipur, Mr. Bhabeshwar Tongbram, Government Polytechnic, Mrs. Mema Paonam, Secretary, All India Women’s Voluntary Services, Dr. Roshan Kumar, Shija Hospital & Research Institute and Dr. Lokendro Singh, Regional Institute of Medical Science.  

The help and assistance provided by the local people helped identify the type of skill enhancement programmes that would help the youths in shaping their personality and equip them with the necessary skill for livelihood. Significant contribution was also provided in the initial setting up of the Programme towards providing operating expenses and other necessities.

VI.IMPLEMENTING AGENCY & LOCATION OF THE PROJECT

Responsenet is a self funded organisation sustained through revenue generating programmes like the Capacity Building Programme, Volunteer Engagement Programme, Communication Services for Development Projects and other humanitarian relief technology solutions provided by the organization. The Delhi Office is situated at C-2/2200, Vasant Kunj, New Delh-110070. Telephone number is 91 11 65422890 and the web address is www.responsenet.org 

While the address of the Manipur Branch where the Twin E-Learning Programme is located at:  

TWIN E-LEARNING PROGRAMME
RESPONSENET, AN aidmatrix initiative
community center
Government POLYTECHNIC
TAKYELPAT
IMPHAL WEST- 795001
MANIPUR
Tel: 0385- 2449569
E-Mail:  k.angela@responsenet.org

VII. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PARTNERSHIP MODEL

The Smile Foundation India and the U&N Foundation in partnerships with various organizations has been successfully running the Twin E-Learning Programme across 36 Centers in the country. The Twin E-Learning Programme is an effort towards creating a pool of independent underprivileged youth living with dignity, through skill enhancement in tandem with market requirements.  The Programme aims at preparing the youths with skills in English Proficiency, Basic Computer Education and such related Soft Skills for enhancing their prospects of employment.  

The curriculum designed covers:

• Spoken English,

• Basic Computers,

• Basic Management with focus on Retail Sales Management,

• Team Work and Leadership Skill Development,

• Personality Development,

• Gender Issues,

• Reproductive and Sexual Health, HIV/AIDS,

• Career Guidance and Counseling.

The Programme is open to:

•  Higher secondary passed students.

•  Children of single women parent, commercial sex workers and children of HIV/AIDS affected parents.

•  Children coming from families living on low income.

•  Enterprising students who are able to afford token fees for the training.

Smile Foundation on hearing the interests of Responsenet An Aidmatrix Initiative to develop programmes in the North East region starting with Manipur, approached the organization. Under the leadership of Ms. Angela Nar Programmes Director (India), the skills for employability Programme, to provide skills to the educated youths, who besides being qualified were not finding any employment was initiated in Manipur. 

The need for such a Programme was felt in Manipur for varied reasons. Globalization and the opening of the economy have not brought much benefit to the state of Manipur. Rather, there is a resultant ever increasing huge unemployment and under-employment in the region. The worst effected are the educated youths in the State, who besides the restricted employment in the public sector have not been able to find employment in the other sectors. 

Prior to the introduction of the Twin E-Learning Programme, Responsenet was already working for the benefit of the people in the State. Manipur being one of the states where employability is a major problem, Responsenet felt the need to initiate the Programme for the benefits of the people and the State of Manipur. The initial expenditure required for Computers, UPS and Printer were sponsored by Smile Foundation and U&N Foundation. While HCL Computers provided a 1 year IT support for any technical related problems.
 

VIII. THE TWIN E-LEARNING PROGRAMME IN MANIPUR

In Manipur, through partnerships and collaboration with various organizations and individuals the Twin E-Learning Programme was started by Responsenet on 11 May 2007 in Imphal -West district. The community based programme was established at the Community Polytechnic located in the Government Polytechnic. The infrastructural support given at free of cost by the Government Polytechnic is to be for a period of 5 years.
 

The Twin E-Learning Programme provides access to vocational education best suited for local economical needs and industry sectors. Besides fulfilling the criteria for eligibility, preference was to be given to youths having after having successfully completed course in Secretarial practices, Basic Computer or similar trade from ITIs or other recognized Institutions, were unemployed. The Center also organizes interactive sessions with professionals from various fields. 

To ensure the successful implementation of the Programme, the Responsenet Delhi team organized a week long orientation programme for the staff of the Manipur Office. The focus was on understanding the need and ways for the implementation of the project. With support from experience faculties from various fields, the Twin E-Learning Programme project was implemented successfully.   

The Programme, open to both men and women is for six months. The Center conducts classes six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, at 2 pm to 5 pm. Computer classes are held compulsorily for five days, while the class on Gender Issues is held only on Saturday. Besides, the Center organizes interactive sessions where the students along with the Programme In-Charge meet prospective employers for job placements. 

No fees are charged from the drop-out students who comprise about 70% of the class, whereas a nominal cost of Rs.200 /- is paid by the other students, who can afford. Expenditure for books, expenses incurred in the running of the Center and other heads is fully borne by Responsenet. A three month Basic Computer Course to familiarize the use of Information and Communication Technology has been started for the interested college going students.

IX.  SUSTAINABILITY & SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMME

Though the Twin E-Learning Programme began with 57 students, within a period of 11 months the Center has successfully trained 124 students. Taking the success of the Programme in providing skills for employability to the youths, the focus is on expanding the Programme to students who have dropped out of Schools or Colleges.

Further, to bring wider number of youths under the Programme attempt is being made to expand the Programme in various Governmental institutions. This will help generate awareness among the uneducated youths in the State of the need to develop skills for employability.

 X. LESSONS LEARNT

Traditional wisdom that fighting unemployment is the State’s responsibility has been revisited by the programme and provided several solutions that can be efficiently implemented. Particularly in a place like Manipur where deteriorating growth is accompanied by issue of law and order, fighting unemployment must be based upon participatory model.   

•     The success of the Twin E-Learning Programme in Manipur is because of partnership between the State and Private actors.

•       Countering increasing unemployment especially in resource deficit areas to be effective needs to be based upon a platform of collaboration with different State Institutions, such as Schools or College’s, Banks, Training Centers and others.

•    Through successful partnership sources of employment can be widened to include new sectors of services and encourage self-employment opportunities, moving beyond employment in the public sector.
   

REFERENCES-

1. Interview with Angela Nar, Programmes Director (India), Responsenet An Aidmatrix Initiative.