From neglect to nurture: NGO adoption transforms middle school in Nurpur area

Once overlooked and facing dwindling enrolment, Government Middle School Bhol-Thakuran in Minjran gram panchayat, Nurpur, is now undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to its adoption under the Himachal Pradesh School Adoption Programme.

Last September, the school was adopted by the Ranjit Bakshi Jankalyan Foundation, a prominent local NGO, under the ‘Apna Vidyalaya Scheme’. Prior to the adoption, the lack of basic infrastructure and academic resources had driven many parents to shift their children to nearby private schools. At one point, the student strength had dropped to just 28.

Since its adoption, however, the school has seen a surge in development and optimism. Within a month, the Foundation provided two outsourced teachers — one for language and another for pre-primary — and set up a school library and computer-printer facility to ensure smoother academic delivery. The enrolment has since increased to 48 students in the current academic session, marking the beginning of a revival.

According to Akil Bakshi, Director of the Foundation, a total of Rs 8 lakh has been earmarked for infrastructure development. This includes the construction of two additional classrooms, a boundary wall, a new entrance gate, furniture upgrades and renovation of the existing school building.

Bakshi stressed that lack of academic infrastructure and vacant teacher posts have been the main reasons for parents preferring private schools over government institutions. He emphasised the urgent need to strengthen basic facilities in government schools to restore public trust and improve enrolment.

Kuldeep Kumar, a local resident and teacher at the school, revealed that it was upgraded from a primary to a middle school in 2016, having originally been established in 1969. Kuldeep, who played a key role in the school’s adoption, said the institution is now being equipped with necessary academic resources and is expected to see a significant rise in enrolment in the coming academic session.

The Jankalyan Foundation, established in 2021 in memory of former MLA Late Ranjit Bakshi, has since been working for the uplift of underprivileged families in the region. Its efforts have become a beacon of hope and a model of social responsibility for other organisations.