Economics of Umang Schools

Umang is running three small school in different economical model.

1. Umang Democratic School currently with about 100 students on roll and about 10 full-time and 4 part-time teachers. The income of the school comes from two sources: 20% contribution from students’ parents, the rest through donations from well-wishers.
2. Umang Foundation School currently with 22 students on roll and 2 full-time and 1 part-time teachers. This is a self-sustainable model. 
3. Umang Pathshala currently with about 500 students on roll and 2 full-time and 1 part-time teachers. The income of the school comes from two sources: 10% contribution from parents, the rest from donations from well-wishers. In this school we are working with unprivileged and marginalised community. We are providing books, stationery, and uniform free of cost to each and every Child.

The financial philosophy of the school has been driven by two main concerns. Firstly, Umang should be accessible to all parents seriously exploring alternative education, and paying capacity should never be a criterion for admission. Secondly, the school should remain small, with a high teacher to student ratio. We believe education is a basic right to each and every child and no student should have to be out of the school due to any financial reasons. 

As a result, we have consciously taken certain financial decisions.

Parents do not pay a “fee” towards the education of their child; rather, they contribute towards the annual recurring running costs of the school according to their capacity. We offer an unlimited and uncapped scholarship amount each year. This creates a shortfall between the income and expenditure of the school.

The school exercises great fiscal discipline towards expenditure. We think long and hard and exercise great caution before we incur any expenditure. Teachers’ salaries (75% of our running costs) are not market driven and are relatively modest. Finally, the cost of creating infrastructure on campus is not transferred onto parents.

The annual shortfall and infrastructure expenses are met by our fund-raising efforts. Fund-raising is, therefore, a crucial aspect of the running of Umang.

Our work in education has been possible and meaningful thanks to the goodwill of our community of friends. We are grateful to all our friends around the world who have supported us so willingly over the years with money, time, books, equipment and encouragement.