Attractive greenery, cleanliness across the premises, a well-equipped science laboratory, a computer laboratory with projector and potable mineral water cans outside every classroom: these are the few notable features of the government higher primary school for girls located in Mulawad village of Basavanabagewadi taluk of Vijayapura district.
This government school, which is over a century old, not only stands apart from other such schools but is also a model for others.
With a strength of 354 students, the authorities concerned said, for years, the school has been maintaining a standard in imparting education.
“Students can learn in the best way possible if the ambience is good and if they are provided with better facilities. Understanding this core aspect, the school is ensuring that these facilities are available for students,” said S.L. Omkar, headmaster of the school.
About the small kitchen garden maintained by students with the help of teachers on the school premises, he said that they grow common vegetables such as tomato, brinjal, lady’s finger and leafy vegetables.
“We use these vegetables to prepare the midday meal. Though we need other vegetables too, we try to cultivate as many vegetables as possible to meet the daily requirement,” he said.
P.M. Pujari, an assistant teacher, said that the School Development Management Committee (SDMC) has been giving full support to the school.
“It is difficult to develop the school and maintain quality in education without the complete backing and encouragement of the SDMC,” she said.
Ms. Pujari said that recently, the SDMC installed loudspeakers in each classroom to help students listen to special student-centric programmes aired by All India Radio.
Sharing her views, Lakshmi Badiger, a class eight student, said that the students are proud to be studying in such a school.
“How many schools have kitchen gardens. Here, we not only study our syllabus but also learn to be close to nature,” she said.
