Like most schools in the city, Aditya Vidya Mandir in Chembur will close for the summer vacations on April 1. Only, it might not reopen in June or probably ever again, as it has no premises to function out of, and at stake is the future of a dozen-odd students with special needs.
AVM is one of the few inclusive schools where children with special needs study with normal children. The Special Needs Education Unit at the school prepares these kids for mainstream schooling and helps them cope with the curriculum and individual development. “Even our regular children have changed the way they look at life with a positive attitude, seeing their friends being challenged each day. We see this as the key strength of our ability to bring both sets of children on a common platform and ensure a fair opportunity to all,” says a school promoter.
Manisha Dharmani, whose son Yug is a Class IV student at AVM, said. “AVM was a blessing as it brought my child into the mainstream, unlike other schools. I am running from pillar to post to find a similar school,” she told The Hindu . “Unfortunately, some of their children will have to go back to special schools,” says Aparna Ramanan Rajesh, co-founder, AVM.
AVM was started four years ago by Radhika Dharmarajan, Kunjal Mehta and Aparna on the premises of the Chedda Nagar Education Society (CNES), which runs Modern English High School. Faced with a space crunch, CNES was left with no option but to ask AVM to move out, a CNES committee member said.
In August 2015, the AVM management asked parents to start seeking admission in other schools as their future was uncertain. Already, the BMC had withdrawn its policy of giving their unused school buildings on long term lease to private schools, trusts and NGOs, something that AVM was hoping for.
Aparna says, “This left us with the option of approaching other private schools, builders and corporates.” Two months ago, AVM came close to inking a deal with another Chembur-based school, but the latter’s management didn’t want to admit the special children.
Earlier this month, AVM celebrated its ‘final’ annual day with The Lion King as the theme. “Parents were weeping, but we had to insulate the children from their emotions. We just said Hakuna Matata (no worries),” says Aparna.
In August 2015, the management asked parents to start seeking admission in other schools
