Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur
Kundapur, Aug 29: There is a common perception that parents must depend on private schools to provide quality education. However, Bagwadi Government Higher Primary School in Noojadi village of Byndoor block in Kundapur taluk has challenged this notion.
The school, which recently celebrated its centenary, has grown into a model government school equipped with modern facilities, quality teaching, technology-based education and extracurricular activities, giving private schools a run for their money. Its continuously increasing enrolment over the past five years is a testament to its progress.
The school was started in 1925 as a dream of local residents, initially with just two rooms on private property. Today, it has 12 well-equipped classrooms on its own land, a centenary building, computer education facilities, a purified drinking water unit, a well-equipped kitchen, a spacious campus and clean toilet facilities.
The school has a total of nine teachers, comprising four permanent teachers, two guest teachers and three honorary teachers. Education is provided from LKG to Class 7 in both Kannada and English medium.
Children from Katbeltur, Balikere, Noojadi, Bagwadi and Devalkunda areas study at the school. Transport facilities are also provided to students at an affordable cost.
Along with academic subjects, the school gives importance to extracurricular activities. Skilled trainers from Kundapur visit the school once a week to provide karate and abacus training.
Students trained in karate have performed well in taluk- and district-level competitions. Computer education is also helping students develop digital knowledge and acquire skills required to compete in the modern world from an early age.
The School Development and Monitoring Committee, alumni, teachers, elected representatives, villagers, various organisations and the Bagwadi Metthinmane Venkamma Ramanna Shetty Trust have been extending continuous support to the school.
This collective effort has helped transform the school into a model educational centre. Many students who studied at the school are now working in reputed positions in various fields in India and abroad. Several others are also serving in government departments.
The school had only 72 students in 2022. The number increased to 85 in 2023, 95 in 2024, 110 in 2025 and 117 in 2026.
When Shailaja Shetty took charge as headmistress in 2013, the school had only 38 students. With a commitment to improving the quality of education, the teachers brought together the SDMC, alumni and villagers and made continuous efforts to develop the school. As a result, enrolment has now increased to 117 students.
“The school is being developed with the support of alumni, donors and villagers with the objective of providing hi-tech education to rural children. A good learning environment is helping build confidence among students,” said Shailaja Shetty, Headmistress, Bagwadi School
“Our objective is to remove the misconceptions people have about government schools. With the support of donors, villagers and alumni, the school has been provided with high-quality facilities at considerable expense. We hope that more children from this school will achieve great success in the future,” said Prakash Acharya, president, Alumni Association.