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The German connection
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Chennai’s first bi-lingual school opens its doors to students this month
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A different approach At Deutsche Schule
A small piece of Germany, right down the ECR. Deutschland, a 20-minute drive from Adyar. Because, the Deutsche Schule, the first bi-lingual International school in Chennai, becomes operational this month.
“About six months ago, I came to India to start a coffee shop chain,” smiles one of the founders of the school, Thomas A. Pallushek. Then, why the radical change in plans? “Because I realised that several International schools here allow only the children of expatriates.”
So, armed with a background in education, having run a leading computer education school, Thomas set to work on the Deutsche Schule.
Housed in a 7,500-sq. ft. colonial-style house with a landscaped garden, swimming pool and a play area, the two-storeyed building in Neelangarai has six classrooms, two spacious halls and two sheltered balconies for the children.
“We’d like to eventually have about 70 per cent of our students from the local populace, and the rest from expatriates,” said Thomas.
Interestingly, all the students admitted to the Deutsche Schule will undergo a Scientific Test Procedure, which evaluates their individual capabilities, by assessing 48 measurable components such as their communication style and verbal abilities. This allows the school to hone the children’s abilities according to their interests such as music, art, theatre, mathematics and sports, rather than a pedagogical syllabus.
Ten per cent of the seats at the school will be offered on scholarship, to students chosen by The Angels, a home for disabled and orphaned children.
“We’ve adopted the highest standard of teaching from our country — the Bavarain curriculum,” said Thomas, “and we will train the teachers not only in various methodologies and didactics, but also to handle differently-abled children.”
The nursery will be divided into groups, with each one having eight children supported by a teacher and an assistant. Besides a certified nurse standing by to provide first aid, a balanced meal will be provided to the children at no additional cost, and the parents can choose from a weekly menu.
To begin with, Deutsche Schule will admit around 50 children at the kindergarten and the pre-school levels. Eventually, they plan to start the elementary level as well as the secondary level. In 2011, construction of a modern campus will commence, along with a space for sports and other activities.
Besides relocating to a modern campus, Deutsche Schule will ensure that the children who complete their 12th Grade here receive the German School leaving certificate, and get a certificate from the International Baccalaureate Organisation, Geneva.
This means that should they choose to pursue their higher education in Germany, their visa and application procedures will be vastly simplified.
For details, call 45018890, or visit http://www.deutscheschulechennai.com.
CHITHIRA VIJAYKUMAR
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