Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
To save a school
|
The Government Upper Primary School at Edappally, which boasts of illustrious alumni, faces the threat of closure. PREMA MANMADHAN on the efforts of the teachers and well wishers to stall it.
|
THE GOVERNMENT Upper Primary School, in which poet Changampuzha Krishna Pillai studied, in Edappally, is gasping for breath. It has the barest minimum number of students needed to keep it from being closed down. In all three classes, Std. V, VI and VII, there are 50 pupils. One child less, and it qualifies to be shut down, according to rules. But the staff members of the school, headed by headmistress, K. K. Gouri, are going all out to save the school.
The Edappally U.P. School Samrakshana Vikasana Samiti, comprising parents, well wishers and VIP alumni, has been formed to improve the school and offer more facilities to students. Free pick up for students who live far away, yoga and computer classes, extra coaching for weaker students, spoken English classes and the customary `kanji' and `payar' for lunch are the facilities offered.
"What a shame if such a historic school should become part of history," she said, pointing out that apart from Changampuzha, Edappally Raghavan Pillai, K. P. Madhavan Nair and ex mayor Somasundara Panikkar had been its past students. The chairman of the Samiti is V. Sankara Raja, a member of the erstwhile royalty in Edappally, who is also a former student.
On February 27, the school celebrates its 88th anniversary. In its heyday, the school stood in one acre and 72 cents of land with up to 13 divisions in a single class. One acre has been handed over to the Mahatma Gandhi University for its IT courses. The remaining classrooms are huge, airy and with wooden ceilings.
"We managed to get three computers with a small fund that we got from teachers and well wishers. The Corporation pitched in with whatever it could do and the maintenance work is done, the compound cleaned," said the headmistress. The funds needed for the other free classes are trickling in as more and more old students are being contacted. Yogacharya Bhaskara Menon, also an old student, has already started yoga classes. "This will not only increase their concentration in studies, but make them physically fit," he said. Pick up facilities are to begin in the next academic year. The modalities are still being worked out, said the headmistress.
The Block Resource Centre's `Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan', a scheme of the Central Government, has started functioning in the school and its new building is coming up in the compound. The teachers from the area are being trained here. Among the six teachers in the school, those who are qualified in computer studies are teaching the children how to use the computer. Colourful curtains, made from saris hang in the computer room, to brighten things up.
"The gates are locked now, and anti-social elements do not enter the compound anymore. The response from old students and well wishers are overwhelming, but we need more help to keep this school going," said the optimistic headmistress. The location of the school, close to the Changampuzha Park, and with good classrooms, will surely make it attractive to kids, hope the teachers, who are doing all they can to uplift the school where once poet Changampuzha studied.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
