Community Based Information Systems for Education Management in Urban Areas

Lack of education causes and is caused by poverty. In urban areas, it adds to the vulnerability of the poor, resulting in inaccessible schools and irrelevant curricula. Building urban communities and harnessing social capital can create an environment where the poor will have greater opportunities for making decisions that influence their lives. Empowered communities are better able to engage institutions in dialogue and articulate their needs to leverage an equitable share of city resources. City plans that integrate poor residents' requirements can mitigate the daily risks faced by the poor. This paper discusses the process of community building within the framework of an education enhancement program that includes a plan for reaching out to the poor in Delhi, India. It discusses various vulnerabilities that place the urban poor at risk, noting self-help strategies that communities have initiated to close the education gap. It describes a spatial information system built upon the Geographical Information System that has captured people's attention, particularly regarding education. Effectiveness of this management tool for addressing and monitoring poverty reduction in urban areas is examined, recommending an inclusive policy for poverty alleviation and suggesting the strategic framework necessary to alleviate urban poverty in partnerships with communities. (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. COMMUNITY BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR EDUCATION MANAGEMENT IN URBAN AREAS Renu Khosla Associate Professor, National Institute of Urban Affairs India Habitat Centre, Core 4 B, Lodi Road, New Delhi, 110003