A Government-run primary school near Ooty has set an example by catering to the English medium education and transport needs of the children by operating a school bus for the benefit of the wards by pooling in resources from the Parent-Teachers Association.
Coimbatore, January 29
A Government-run primary school near Ooty has set an example by catering to the English medium education and transport needs of the children by operating a school bus for the benefit of the wards by pooling in resources from the Parent-Teachers Association.
The said primary school in Athirakatti village had started losing enrolment as the wards and parents preferred English medium schools in nearby places. One of the oldest schools established in 1852, the school was on the verge of closure as students strength was gradually reduced to mere 12 last year.
Thanks to the efforts of the Parent Teachers Association which wanted to revive the school to its old glory, English medium education was introduced in the school and a school bus was also procured for transport facilities after mobilising funds by the members of Parent -Teachers Association and donations.
“The school bus was procured for Rs.17 lakh to transport children from nearby villages such as Maniatti, Muttinadu, Nunthala, Kaathadimattam and other nearby areas, who earlier were not ready to join the school citing lack of English medium education and lack of transport facilities” said a parent who also contributed to the fund to buy the school bus.
"We have also decided to pay the salaries of English -medium teachers from Parent-Teachers association kitty" said a parent.
Resultantly, enrollment in the current academic year has witnessed a phenomenal increase and now as many as 135 students have joined the school and are studying their primary classes. When Government run schools are losing patronage all over the state and being closed down one after the other in the wake of mushrooming of English medium schools all over, the hard thinking done by the Parent Teachers Association members have helped to run the Athirakatti primary school with all its original glory.
Indeed, the primary school has set a good example for other schools to follow. Will other schools facing closure bring about the same rescue act? It is a million dollar question.