KOZHIKODE: Even when the story of several schools facing threat of closure is doing the rounds, Kannancheri Government Lower Primary School(GLPS) has a different tale to tell about its revival.
With the efforts of the headmaster and teachers, the school which once faced the threat of closure owing to lack of students now has more than 100 students. Among them are children of highly professional parents like doctors, income tax inspectors, bank managers and police officers.
The school was established in 1930 and till 2001 it enjoyed a prosperous time with 200 students studying under the guidance of P Balakrishnan as its headmaster. It was after his retirement that the school started facing a gradual decrease in the number of students to one.
“I was shocked to see the condition of the school a few years ago. The building was in a dangerous condition and parents were not willing to send their children to the school. Immediate action was needed for the revival of the school and our primary focus was to renovate the school building,” said P Balakrishnan.
After renovation of the school, they constructed a beautiful park in front of the school which later become the major attraction of the school. A major problem the GLPS School faced during the process of revival was that it was located in a residential area where rich families were staying.
“There is a misconception among parents that a school which is giving free education never maintains good standards. We proved it wrong when a doctor and an income tax inspector decided to send their children to the school when they can easily afford a high standard schools,” said Padmanabhan T.
This year the school has five teachers and around 100 students. With the help of local residents and school managing committee, each year they make necessary renovation to the school.
“We led campaigns to make the parents understand the working of the school. We did art works on school walls and had the support of the city corporation,” said P C Babu, a teacher.