Nurpur school turns ‘smart’ with community participation

Rajiv Mahajan

NURPUR, SEPTEMBER 10

Government Primary School at Madanpur village in Pandrer gram panchayat in Nurpur, which was re-opened after seven years this year, has gone smart with community participation.

The school was closed in 2012-13 as none of the parents had enrolled their ward in the school.

Classrooms of the school are now equipped with LCDs and Internet connection. Chairs and tables and a water cooler have also been arranged by the locals. Villagers have revived this school, setting an example for other schools closed due to falling number of students.

Nurpur tehsildar Ganesh Thakur adopted the school after an appeal by the DC, Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati to officers for adopting one primary school and one anganwari centre in their area.

Besides, Sikander Rana, local panchayat pradhan, Deepak Kumar, a patwari, Amit Rana, a coach of the Nurpur Sports Club, and Gulab Thakur, another activist of the Sport Club, offered to join the mission. Managements of some private schools have agreed to send their English and mathematics teachers for preparing students for the competitive examinations.

The pupils are being taught English from nursery and no fee is being charged from their parents. The Education Department had sanctioned two posts of teacher but appointed only one in this academic session. The state government was to provide uniforms to students but local panchayat with community participation has ordered to supply uniforms, shoes, water bottles and school bags.

The gram panchayat and social organisations took keen interest in the construction of the school’s retaining wall, fixing floor tiles and providing infrastructure. Panchayat also launched a special drive to motivate parents for enrolling their wards in the school. Ramta Rana, wife of panchayat pradhan, is also teaching students free of cost.

Equipped with LCDs

• Classrooms of the school are now equipped with LCDs and Internet connection
• Chairs and tables and a water cooler have also been arranged by the locals
• Private schools have agreed to send their English and mathematics teachers for preparing students for the competitive examinations
• The pupils are being taught English from nursery and no fee is being charged from their parents