It was a journey the students of Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thycaud, will remember for a long time to come. More than 54 students of the school went on their maiden flight trip to Kochi last week. Accompanied by six teachers, including the school principal, S. Mohanadasan Pillai, the students left the Thiruvananthapuram Airport for Nedumbasseri, Kochi, in the morning.
Dream trip
"The trip was a dream come true for the students, most of whom are travelling by plane for the first time," said K.V. Pramod, who teaches Gandhian studies at the school. This was a part of the school's ongoing centenary celebrations. What made the trip special was the fact that at least six students in the group worked very hard to pay for their tickets. The students who hail from Chengalchoola, an impoverished housing colony in the city, collected the amount by doing odd jobs such as vending newspaper, paper bags and files before and after school hours. "A majority of the students in the group hailed from economically backward families. In all probability, the trip may prove to be the only opportunity the students will get in their lives to travel by a plane," said Mr. Pramod. While 50 students belong to Std XII, four students were from Std IX. The school was forced to turn down a lot of late requests from the students as the flight bookings had to be completed a month ago. In Kochi, the students visited a popular private amusement park before returning home by bus.
