Roadside School Gives Delhi's Street Children A Second Chance

A passerby might mistake Shyam Bihari Prasad’s students for a ragged bunch of street beggars but this unremarkable pavement is an invaluable resource for children to educate themselves.

The 67-year-old retired from his job in telecommunications in 2010 to look after his granddaughter with his wife.

Three years ago he decided to set up the unconventional school to tackle the gaps in education for New Delhi's poorest class of children.

He said: “Because there is no space and in this costly city, no one is ready to give space for educating them. That’s why I have started on this footpath.

“When I was starting, very little children were there and they were begging for food and biscuits in front of the gates.

"I saw the children and thought why not? These children should be provided with education. Some of the children are very intelligent.

“Because these children are street children, there was no discipline on how to speak, how to stand. After giving moral education, very slowly after thee years, they are in this position.”

In the beginning, the humble school did not even have mats to sit on and children stood to be taught verbally by the patient teacher, however, times have changed.

Children are not charged to attend and all the school’s supplies are provided by locals and individuals who come across the street school.

Shyam said: ”Someone donated the mat, someone else donated the blackboard and chair. Everything is donated by people like you and not by government or NGOs.

“I do my work and the rest is donated by passersby, like books. Everything is donated by them. I don’t have to do anything - I just work hard.”

Conducting classes seven days a week, Shyam offers his 35-40 students lessons in English, Hindi, maths and social sciences.

Pooja Kumari Naik, 10, who had never been to school before, has been attending Shyam’s for two years and his lessons have encouraged a fierce desire to learn.

Pooja said: “I want to become a teacher when I grow up. Our uncle is very good. He teaches us English very well. He explains Hindi very nicely and we feel very good when he teaches us.

“He gives us knowledge and wisdom - that’s why we come here to study.”