Coimbatore school's transformation: From butcher shop to a four-roomed school
COIMBATORE: A school in Coimbatore, originally housed in a butcher shop, now has 150 students all thanks to the headmistress, who took matters into her hands and pioneered the change.
Kavitha Lakshmi Nagar Panchayat Union Primary School started in 2003 under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme on the premises of another school in the neighbourhood. In 2008 after the appointment of the current headmistress, the school was shifted to a single 8x16 feet room in the middle of a market.
With no solid walls for security, the school soon became a dumping yard over the weekend. There was always someone else's mess to clear -- garbage from makeshift markets, random people who had used the empty space as drinking grounds and the mess of animals that had found shelter there.
After the strength of the school was increased from 21 to 45, the headmistress sought a change. She formed a Parent-Teacher Association and started collecting funds.
Many pitched in and soon the government funding also got cleared. The school was moved from the local market to a humble building, funded by the headmistress.
"The school and the headmistress have created an ideal learning environment for children. The school even offers yoga, karate and chess classes for children, which is unlikely in many government schools", said a parent.
After the school received nine cents of land from the government, four new classrooms were made and the student strength was increased to 150.
When asked about the motivation behind the transformation, headmistress, M Karpagam said, "These children were from a humble background. Hence, I wanted to run the school (well) at any cost. I collected money from willing people and the government too allotted funds. I had a solid resolve to make the school better."
In early 2018 the school was sponsored by PTA and got a makeover worth 1.5 lakhs. New computer, fresh paint, tables and chairs were donated as an educational gift by a nearby temple.
The school serves as a beacon of hope for other government schools that are struggling with similar problems -- lack of space and resources.