Teachers set out to enrol students to prevent closing of Pachaiyappa's School on N.S.C. Bose Road
For teachers of this 170-year-old institution, summer vacations are shorter. Like in the previous years, the staff of Pachaiyappa's College Higher Secondary School, located on N.S.C. Bose Road, spends a few weeks of the break to visit different localities in north Chennai to canvass for enrolment.
This government-aided school, although unique because it only runs classes IX to XII, has seen its strength coming down over the years. This is a concern faced by quite a few government and aided schools, but a team of teachers in this school, run by the Pachaiyappa's Trust, is fighting closure by trying to get more students on its rolls. “We don't want a situation to come where the school will have to close down because of poor strength,” says K. Gajalakshmi, who teaches history. She spent last Sunday visiting pockets in Pulianthope with two other students from the school to campaign for the institution.
Including the headmaster, there are 16 teaching staff for this school of 400 students. Last year, the strength of students came down by 50, and the teachers fear that if this trend were to continue, they might be transferred to other schools. Their enrolment drive seeks to make up for this loss, and so far they have succeeded in getting nearly 50 new students every year.
“There are 14 schools within a two-and-a-half kilometre radius,” says S. Jeyachandran, headmaster of the school who retires this month. To draw students, it serves free lunch, charges a nominal tuition fee and is more than happy to admit first generation learners. All these initiatives might be helping the school get students after a lot of effort, but its location (it is opposite the busy Broadway bus terminus) often works to its disadvantage.
The school is surrounded by dime-a-dozen vendors. Inside too, the heritage building faces threat from natural calamities. Also, shortage of funds is slowly taking away the charm of the school, which has a ceiling made of Burma teak wood and Mangalore tiles resting over it. Each of the classrooms has two doors giving plenty of ventilation and in fact soaking the chaos of the commercial street.
“From my retirement amount, I have taken Rs. 4 lakh for maintenance of the building, I only wished even the management showed a little more interest in taking care of the school, which is the first aided institution in South India,” says Mr. Jeyachandran, who has served 33 years in the school.
The building also houses the Govinda Naicker Secondary School (having classes VI, VII and VIII) in the first floor run by the same management but with a different headmaster.
According to B. Rajagopal, secretary of the Trust, the school is not generating any funds so maintaining the building is also a challenge. “I want to apply for self sufficiency scheme of the government as we do not have money,” he says.
Keywords: Pachaiyappa's School, enrolling of students
the act of the Head Master itself is enough to speak of their ideals and a thousan words spoken. every responsible authority should come forward with their head and mind together to help to continue the legacy of the school
Headmaster sacrificing his personal money for the welfare of the school is commendable. I pray to God that he must get full financial support after his retirement says Y.V. Murali. Also pray God that he gets his retirement money at least within a year’s time.All the best.
Headmaster sacrificing his personal money for the welfare of the school is commendable. I pray to God that he must get full financial support after his retirement says Y.V. Murali. Also pray God that he gets his retirement money at least within a year’s time.
Government should give funds??? This is a government aided school. Do you know how rich the trust is?
Pahyappas Trust may be having a lot money Why not use? I still remember this Pachayappas was Tram stop charging one and half anna fro Pursawalkam and if you cross this stage is was two annas for Parrys stop
Tram Conductors with a punchers attached to their cash bags used to punch on and half anna ticket when we say Pachayappas
Overseas alumnus pooling in 10$ each can help give this historic glory a
face lift. Comon fellows... high schools are not only a favorite topic
at Indian Association gatherings and get-togethers...
The school authorities should apply for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
That is such a shame! It won't cost government a lot to takeover and maintain this. Instead of spending so much by swapping and playing with the parliament buildings, something could be done here to preserve such a privilege. Even 'The Hindu' could do something about it by appealing the readers to contribute (even as little as they could) and raise some fund to make the school up and running. Any thoughts?
the government should give funds to this charitable school. Sad to such a state of schools that work for the poor and underclass, such schools are a hope for the poor for their better future.
It is really painful to read this article. I am from Chennai and an headmaster sacrificing his personal money for the welfare of the school is commendable. I pray to God that he must get full financial support after his retirement. Government should pump in more funds to ensure that this old school does not close. Extra coaching for IIT or for CA should be given to attract more children. I am sure the committment the people of Tamil Nadu have, this is possible. All the best.
why can't the newsapaper organise an event to financially help such schools???
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