Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Nov 9: Tekkatte Kuvempu Centenary government model school, in the face of competition from private schools, has succeeded in maintaining its supremacy through qualitative teaching style. The school, which falls under Kundapur academic zone, has the school with the highest student strength among government schools in the entire Udupi district.

The school currently has 778 students. For the academic year 2021-22, already 253 students have enrolled themselves.112 students have got admitted to the first standard. 141 have got admission into classes 2 to 7. With this, these classes have a total student strength of 566. 

The school came into being in the year 1893. It has already celebrated its post centenary silver jubilee. For its high quality education, the school has received A grade from the department. Besides becoming a ray of hope for rural students the school also has the distinction of being chosen as the state level best school award in the year 2002. In 2014, it got A grade in KSQAC evaluation, being one among the only two schools to get this grade. In 2018-19. It also got the tag of being a heritage school from the Karnataka government.

Students up to 12 km distance are attending this school. Several students from private schools too have got admissions here. These students have come not only for the first standard, but also for the others. The school has so many students even though it does not have pre-primary glasses. Every class has three to four sections. Fifth standard has been divided into four sections. Karnataka Bank has provided a school vehicle worth Rs 22 lac.

The school has always come to be known for its quality education. The teachers take very good care of the students as they have a lot of concerns. The school has a good library having over 10,000 books. Such a big library in a government school is very rare.

SDMC has been actively involved with the development of the school. Currently Santhosh Poojary is the president of the SDMC. Vice president and all the members along with the old students association have been striving to improve the school further. Tekkatte Education Trust has been formed to develop the school with Malyady Shivaram Shetty as its president Vishwanathi Achar is the secretary.

Currently, Lalita is the headmistress of the school. The school has an attractive children's park, computer and painting training system, quality laboratory for science education, use of learning instruments to improve education, radio broadcasting system for every class, Yoga training etc. In the school compound with the joint aegis of Indian government and Karnataka government, with World Bank help, a national cyclone shelter costing R 2.6 crore has been built with toilets, kitchen, godown, generator etc and a library.

In the recent past, during the land acquisition process for road expansion, a sum of Rs 21 lac had been credited to SDMC account. The government in 2020 asked the money to be remitted to the government. As the school building was constructed from donors, the government was requested through the deputy director of public instruction to permit the use of this money for improving facilities. The issue was also brought to the notice of education minister B C Nagesh, during his visit to the school. If the government permits to use this money, most of the remaining facilities can be provided.