Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 24: In the recent past, several schools have been shut down due to the lack of enough students in the district. Certain organizations and local citizens have set an example for others by striving relentlessly to save a school which was on the verge of closure.

Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat model higher primary school Tiruvail Vamanjoor has a history of a hundred years. Unfortunately, seven years ago, the school was facing the eventuality of being shut down due to the lack of enough student strength. In the year 2015-16 the school had only 70 students. This was brought to the notice of the Old Students Association, Raghu Salian and corporator Hemalatha Raghu Salian. They decided to take necessary steps to save the school from imminent closure.

They had to visit every house for a campaign requesting the children to attend the government school. After LKG and UKG classes started more students started coming to the school. Raghu Salian and Stany Cutinho used to bring students from different places in their own vehicles. Year after year the number of students has increased from 70 to 250. Even the surroundings of the school have turned out to be greener, and a more beautiful play area for the students.

Corporator Hemalatha Raghu Salian said, “I and my husband studied in this school. When we came to know that this school was on the verge of closure we felt bad. We decided that we have to save this school from getting closed. So we took certain measures to save the school, Today, the school is standing tall after facing all the challenges. We will continue to work relentlessly in the future too to develop this school."

Raghu Salian said, ‘the school has a long history of 100 years. Eight years ago the school was facing the risk of closure. We had to conduct meetings to save the school. Even before that my wife took the post of corporator and we worked tirelessly for the school. It was a challenge to save this school when there were five schools in Vamanjoor surroundings. We had to do a lot of work. We visited every house requesting the children to be sent to school and there was an increase in the students’ strength. I and Stany Cutinho used to pick and drop the students in our own vehicles. Today, it is good to see that a lot of students are showing interest to join this school. We thank MLA Dr Bharath Y Shetty for his contribution to this school. We urge the government to provide more facilities to this school in addition to teachers, furniture and a good school building."

Headmaster of the school Gopal said, ‘Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat model higher primary school Tiruvail Vamanjoor was on the verge of closure. When the school was facing the risk of being shut, Raghu Salian and his wife corporator Hemalatha Raghu Salian took up the initiative to save the school. In the year 2015-16 only 70 students were studying in the school, since the start of LKG UKG students started coming from Bondel, Gurpur, Bondanthila etc. Corporator and her husband donated a school bus which is also a plus point for the school to increase the number of students every year. We have a strong old students association under the leadership of Victor Stany Cutinho which has contributed immensely to the development of the school. We have formed Vidhyabodini education trust where Raghu Salian spends up to 3-4 lac for the development of school and also the trust gives away salaries for the teachers.

Raju Poojary said, “NHAI has marked that this school will be demolished for the purpose of highway and there is no alternative solution yet. With the help of NMPT and MRPL we have built three classrooms. We are in need of seven classroom building, computer room and a teacher’s room.”

Student Supreetha said, “I am very happy to come to this school which has a lot of facilities now compared to a few years back. Earlier, very few students were coming to this school. Today it has increased up to over 250 students. Teachers are very supportive. I could not understand online classes, coming back to school after a long gap feels very special to interact with friends and teachers."