Imagine the child of a sweeper and an industrialist studying, playing and sharing meals in the same classroom. Sounds impossible? Not quite. Samhita Academy, a new school in J P Nagar, is soon to turn this seemingly unattainable situation into a reality.
Samhita Academy moves from road school learning to classroom teaching. It aims to provide scholarships and a surrogate home to 20 per cent of students hailing from economically weaker sections of society, while the rest 80 per cent would be regular day scholars. The school plans to instill strong values and life skills like critical thinking, mutual respect, innovation and creativity simultaneously in students from different backgrounds. The first session of this school starts in June this year.
“The children will wear the same uniform and do everything together, from sitting for meals to studying,” says Champa Saha, Vice Principal of Samhita Academy. “Social integration is the need of the hour.”
Situated on a six-acre piece of land and based on a boarding model with room for 1000 students, Samhita Academy is the vision of Shibulal, Chief Operating Officer of Infosys. Shibulal had been involved in several educational and health ventures from the time his young son was detected with a ventricular septal defect, a congenital heart disease in children that increases blood pressure and causes breathing difficulties.
An idea is born
He felt that just handing out scholarships to children of rag pickers or unskilled labourers earning below Rs 50 per day does not serve the purpose. Providing them with a residential facility and access to every facet of education that normal children have, is what’s important. So he came up with the idea of Samhita Academy. “You need to make sure every child is in school,” he says.
Activists in the field of education feel that though such an approach is fundamental, its success depends on many factors like the quality of teachers and method of teaching.
“This approach is relevant for the present day Indian primary education,” K Vaijayanti, Head Research & Evaluation, Akshara Foundation, a non-governmental organisation said. “But the success of this approach is dependent on one critical factor – the teacher.” The teacher’s ability, understanding and motivation level, and his/her involvement in imparting knowledge can make or break the school’s vision, she said.
At present, 14 teachers have been appointed to handle a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum. The Teacher Foundation, a non-profit organisation, will train the teachers for a month on topics like classroom teaching, activities, innovation in teaching methods, and assessment of the children. Teachers will also undergo a training programme once a month in the school.
However, Champa Saha said, the unbiased attitude of the teacher is the primary quality the school is seeking.
“Love for the children is the basic ingredient,” she said. “A teacher should allow the children to explore and ask questions.” She added that there would be a peer-review system for the teachers where they will appraise each other based on observation and suggest ways for improvement.
Ananth Shankar, designer and cartoonist by profession, is the father of Taarini who has been enrolled in the Lower Kindergarten programme of Samhita Academy. He feels that integration is very important between all societies that surround a child.
“At the age my daughter is, a child’s bubble of idealism is intact,” he said. “It is important to free the child from purchase, responsibilities or choices that will display the difference. In this situation each child has much to learn and grow with the other.”
Interaction fostered
The school timetable is framed with ample opportunities to foster interaction among the students. Once a week an activity called circle time will be held in the school assembly, where students will sit in a circle and share their thoughts and experiences. Jenny Mosley, an educational consultant from the United Kingdom will specially train the teachers to conduct this group exercise.
“This is an avenue to bring children of different backgrounds together and bring out what is on their mind,” said Saha. The parents of the children will also be an integral part of the process. Apart from the parent-teacher meetings, guardians can meet the teachers anytime during the school hours. The parents of residential children would also be notified of their ward’s progress when they visit the children.
“We look at parents as partners,” explains Saha. “We want parents to get a real feel of the events in the school.”
Shibulal said that such an approach is essential for proper development of a child.
“If you really want children to be productive they need to understand the social menace and the importance of integration,” he said.
For further details contact:
The Samhita Academy,
#58, 15th cross, JP Nagar 2nd Phase, Bangalore- 560 078
Tel: 080-2649 0028
Admissions are open throughout the year.
