Jai Bhim Network

Due to our constant success, more and more people get into contact with us. Many of them ask: how do we operate?

The first thing an outside observer notices is that while in other secondary grammar schools one cannot see Roma students, one can see at our school. It is also usually noted that approaches of reform pedagogy appear in our everyday work (Waldorf, Freinet, Mahatma Phule, Paolo Freire).

The founder of the Dr. Ámbédkar Secondary Grammar School, Vocational School and Elementary School for Adult Education is the Jai Bhim Network. The founder is an ecclesiastical organization, the school is ideologically committed. However, this commitment is not very similar to what we know from other church schools: e.g. there is no compulsory religious instruction.

The Jai Bhim network means for the Dr. Ámbédkar Secondary Grammar School what the local government means for the state schools. It appoints the head of the school (Tibor Derdák headmaster), approves the pedagogical programme of the school and determines its budget (Act LXXIX of 1993 § 102. (2)).

The founder network is governed by a board as are the local governments. The board is called the assembly of dhammamitras. Its leader is János Orsós, its current members are: Tibor Derdák, László Kalányos, István (Benő) Lázi, Anna (Anikó) Orsós.

As the network maintains one single institution, governance is done directly, without hierarchical transposals: there is no committee on public education (Act LXXIX of 1993 § 102. (1)), no department on education, no gamesz and nothing similar. This way we can be more open to the outside world.

Still, the way we operate is similar to bigger organizations in a sense that human scale and direct contact does not and cannot supplement the use of written records, filed administration, written presentation of initiatives, and the collation of lists and statements. Anita Walter, head of office, is responsible for the work preparing for decisions related to founder governance (Act LXXIX of 1993 § 102. (1)).

A peculiarity that stems from the small size and short existence of our organization is that at our institution all questions related to finance pass through the circle of the founder governance, thus with the cooperation of Anita Walter through the hands of János Orsós. The head of the founder network endorses all requests, price offers, reacts in writing and then countersigns all agreements and payments.

This means a process different from what we are used to especially in the case of contracts related to our budget and employment relations. At our organization, everyone starts working as a volunteer and then writes down his or her offer independently to the founder. Only after this can some kind of an agreement be created in writing.

The board of teachers of the school meets for short meetings in Sajókaza twice a week around noon, as our work that is done in three locations needs commitment, independence, creativity and constant negotiations. Longer meetings of the board of teachers take place during school holidays.

The strategic decisions are made by a closer group the members of which at the moment are: Adrienn Czikray, Tibor Derdák, János Orsós and Szabolcs Vicze. One can enter this group based on years-long, exceptionally efficient work done in various fields connected to the professional environment of the school.

The head of the student council in the school year of 2008/9 is Gábor Lakatos. In our premises in Ózd and Hegymeg, the organization of the students is still being formed.