BENGALURU: As you travel through the bylanes of Nayandahalli, the houses and single-storey buildings reveal that high-scale development is yet to reach the neighbourhood. No wonder then that even today M Puttaswamy, Vishwa Bharathi Group of Institutions’ founder, is humble, a quality that comes from being rooted to the ground.
Vishwa Bharathi Public School, in Vinayaka Layout, is one of the few buildings which rises up to four floors. The school, established in 2006, offers education from nursery to PUC, and has around 1,800 students.
The school’s USP is affordable education, which Puttaswamy has maintained, keeping in mind the economic background of the population in the locality. But he has not compromised on the essentials: a playground, laboratories, library and 57 well-qualified teachers. The school has a teacher-student ratio of 1:30. The school follows the state syllabus. Puttaswamy asserts that CBSE might be too tough for his students.
“We use English to communicate, but follow the state syllabus. People here need basic education, and that has been our focus. Over the years, if life here becomes better, we can offer CBSE and ICSE too,” he says.
Puttaswamy points out that the school follows activity-based method of learning, and encourages students in co-curricular activities, evidenced in the huge collection of trophies in his modest cabin.
“We understand the strengths and weaknesses of the students, and encourage them in sports, dance and other extra-curricular activities. The results have been quite heartening,” he says.
The school’s founder-principal plans to start an evening degree college. “Most teenagers get time only in the evening, as they help their parents out during the day. So I plan to open a facility for them that will let them attend classes stress-free,” he says.
Under the Vishwa Bharathi Group of Institutions, Puttaswamy has three other schools: Vishwa Bharathi English School, Chandra Layout, Vishwa Bharathi Public School, Metro Layout, and Deepti Vidya Niketana, Nagarbhavi. Vishwa Bharathi PU College is situated within the Vinayaka Layout school compound.
Recalling the time when he started the institution in a small building in 1993, Puttaswamy says he is proud of his schools. “Over the years, there has been a change in the area. I can see the way it has grown as a result of education imparted,” he says.
Facilities
Spacious classrooms Science and computer labs Smart classrooms Well-stocked library Equipped activity rooms Van facility UV-RO drinking water CCTV cameras all over the premises