News and pics: Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Aug 9: The competition amongst private schools and the donation menace has been increasing but the love of parents towards those schools has not decreased. The increasing inclination towards private
schools has pushed government schools to closure. However the former students of Maravanthe government school are determined for its survival by venturing into a new experiment and venture.

The school which has celebrated its platinum jubilee just recently has classes till seventh standard. It has two English medium classes and has a strength of 180 students. Dayananda S Balegar and other like-minded former students of the school started an old students association this year and got it registered. They have started attracting children to the school with special activities.

The school has started LKG and UKG classes this year. They have gone a step further and donated a school bus worth Rs 14 lac. The school has facilities, instruments and basic facilities equal to those of private schools. There are experienced teachers for UKG and LKG classes. Therefore the interest of parents towards the school has increased. 53 children have enrolled this year and it is hoped that the number will increase next year.

The former students have become a model by donating a bus of such high a price to the school. These students had the farsightedness that the government school children too should travel by school bus like in private schools. The school ferries children daily by two trips via Ice plant, Gandhi Nagara, Moodushale etc. The fuel expenses and the driver's salary will be paid by the old students.

Headmistress Sathyana Koderi praised the efforts of the passed out students. Participation of people is necessary for the development of government schools. The old students of this school have put that into practice. If similar attempts are found in other government schools, the schools are bound to remain in focus.