Hello Jessica,
I finally made it to Kakinada on Friday, 17th June. Reaching Sharada Vidyalayam
was not difficult, as Srikiran Eye Institute a part of Sankurathri Foundation is a
well know landmark in Kakinada.
I reached Sarada Vidyalayam around noon. This is a beautiful little school with a
pretty garden. As I entered the campus it seemed very quiet, I wondered if it was
a holiday, then I saw a few kids studying under the shade of a mango tree and
the other children were in their respective classrooms. It was amazing to know
that a school with more than hundred children can be so quiet.
First I met Rama Rao the administrator of the school, who took me to Dr Chandra
Sekhar’s house. After a quick refreshment and introduction with Dr Chandra
Sekhar I went back to the school. During the lunch break Rama Rao introduced
me to the teachers, the casual chatting led to an interesting discussion on ‘what
discipline is?’, how fear obstructs learning and what freedom is for children?’.
After lunch break Rama Rao took me to all the seven classrooms. I enjoyed
talking to the children they all looked very bright and confidant. We talked about,
what they like and don’t like at school, about their daily activities, about films and
of course cricket!. They all seemed to show interest in learning computers, I
asked them, why? And they said “the future is all about computers!”
What impressed me the most was the children’s handwriting. All the children
have beautiful handwriting. The teachers explained that utmost care is give to
handwriting, the concerned class teacher corrects every piece of written work.
Rama Rao told me that earlier they had a volunteer teaching in the school Dr
Shamala who has inspired and trained the teachers. Most of the teachers have
been with the school from its inception. Another interesting practice in the school
is that the administrator’s (head master) role is by rotation, in this way all the
teachers understand the responsibilities and share work. Once in a month all the
teachers have a get-together in one of the teachers houses. No wonder they are
an excellent team. The school has an outstanding academic record, in the recent
class seven public exam all the children have got very good marks and there has
been no retention at all. Rama Rao is very meticulous in maintaining the school
registers. He pulled out the Progress Register and I found that even in the
previous years the children had got exceptionally good marks.
I liked the activity room; the walls of this room were covered with colorful
paintings, drawings and other craftwork done by the children. The children also
help in cleaning the school premises and maintaining the garden. On all Fridays
children have a chanting class. I was entranced with listening to the children
chant Sanskrit hymns, the rhythm and pronunciation was so good.
The children’s playroom had plenty of toys and games. Next we went into the
science lab; I felt the science lab and the library need to be more equipped.
Rama Rao showed me the proposed computer room. I also spoke to the teacher
who will be teaching computers to the children. What surprised me was that all
the teachers were also keen on learning computers, they said that it will help
them in their teaching, preparing lesson plans and making worksheets. They said
that by showing simulations in science or geography the children understand
concepts much better.”
By 4pm the school assembled under the mango trees, after singing the national
anthem the children walked in file, bid farewell to their teachers and got into the
waiting bus. The school bus will take them to their respective villages.
After the children left I went to Dr Chandra Sekhar’s office, he talked to me about
the school’s steady progress and the future plans. As I was curious to see the
Eye Institute, he deputed Ramesh the person in-charge of the Community Outreach Program to take me around the hospital. He showed me every department
and explained about all the latest equipment they have in the institute.
I would have liked stayed on for another day but as I had traveled form Adilabad
to Kakinada the previous night (a long bus journey about 18hrs and was away
from home for a week) I was feeling tired and decided to return back to
Madanapalle. Dr Chandra Sekhar kindly sent a vehicle to drop me at the railway
station. I reached the station just in time to catch Sheshadri Express, reached
Tirupati the next morning and from there I went to Madanapalle by bus.
I am very satisfied with this visit. I learnt a lot and was also inspired by Sarada
Vidyalayam as we are planning to start a quality school for underprivileged
children near Madanapalle.
With warm regards,
Ravi.