This rural school in Faridkot is like no other

Thursday, 06/09/2012

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120906/punjab.htm#3

Pakhi Kalan (Faridkot) : The Government Senior Secondary School, Pakhi Kalan, in Faridkot district is a school with a difference. Shedding the image of a regular government school, this school has emerged as a model institute, where children get dry and seasonal fruits as part of their midday meal, manicured lawns greet the eyes and teachers pay from their own pockets to provide facilities to the students and maintain the school building.

The number of students has also been growing steadily. The lawns, which are maintained by the staff, can give any garden in the urban area a run for its money.

Three of the eight lawns have been developed into demonstrative education parks - English park, Maths park and social studies park.

“The duty of a teacher in these trying times is not just to teach their subjects but also to inculcate a sense of responsibility towards our institution in children,” says principal Nek Singh. “Teachers led by Gopal Krishan changed the school from its dusty premises to one of the most beautiful in the state by contributing from their own pocket,” he said.

“The school is a temple for us. It is so easy to indulge in idle discussion of criticising the government or blaming the system. We thought of doing our bit,” says Gopal Krishan.

A state awardee, Krishan has contributed over Rs 2 lakh from his pocket and has been instrumental in maintaining the lawns as well as the building.

The teachers have even contributed money to install a reverse osmosis plant (RO). “We believe that education can be imparted only in a good atmosphere. The water supply of the school reported 2,100 TDS (total dissolved solids), which was quite harmful for the students. We could not wait for funds. The teachers collected money from among themselves and some social workers also chipped in to set up the plant.”

Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka is no less impressed with the initiative of the teachers. “I have never seen such a school in my life. And the results of the school are also good,” he said.

The school, however, has to do better in the subject of English. “Traditionally, English has remained the Achilles’ heel of rural students. Most students face difficulty in clearing the examination as their base in the subject is weak. We are trying to improve the standard of English taught in the school,” say the principal.

MODEL SCHOOL

• Teachers raise money from their pocket to maintain infrastructure
• Students get dry and seasonal fruits as part of midday meal