PUDUKKOTTAI: When one steps on to the campus of the panchayat union middle school in Mangudi of Pudukkottai district, it is not surprising the school was one of the few in the State to receive the ‘Puthumai Palli’ (Modern School) award from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday.
Nature easily blends with modernity on the campus. While the 120 trees help keep the temperature cool on the outside, the five smart classrooms add to its popularity. Bucking the modern trend of private schools scoring over their government counterparts in terms of enrollment, the school in Mangudi, 10 km from Aranthangi, is more sought after than the village’s private school, which has a mere 10 students.
Though it was just like any other government school earlier, things changed after V Jothimani joined as headmaster in 2014. “First, an overgrowth of ‘Seemai Karuvelam’ was removed, a compound wall built and saplings planted on the premises, covering an area of more than one acre. Then the uniform of the students was changed for two days when they turn out in shoes and ties. Parents prefer private schools for the English education and the uniform with ties and shoes. We offered them both,” Jothimani said.
Former panchayat president of the village, Balamani Rangasamy, said, “In a parent-teacher association meeting, we instructed people to buy two sets of uniforms with ties and shoes for their children instead of colourful; outfits for festivals. We did a lot of infrastructural work through the ‘Namakku Namey’ scheme of the government In academics and extracurricular activities like creative writing, the students fare better than those in the private school.” The smart classrooms have air-conditioners, smart boards with touch facility, projectors, rolling chairs, computers and advanced TVs. Class VII students give PowerPoint presentations. Biometric attendance and CCTV cameras give the school an urban look. A glass box on the main building is full of awards, waiting to be given to students who can name all State capitals or recite 10 Thirukkural couplets and so on.
The local community supports the school as people realises sending children to the private school would be a costly affair. Sabari Krishnan, a youth from the nearby Rethinakottai village, visited the campus on Wednesday afternoon on hearing about the school and wanted to make a donation. Jothimani said, “We will not accept money from donors. If they want to help, they can pay shops for things we need, like furniture, dustbins or other such items and give it to the school.” The Tamil film, Saattai, was reportedly inspired by the school and its headmaster.
pics:
1, 5. A smart classroom at Mangudi panchayat union middle school.
4. Biometric attendance for students