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Rajiv Mahajan
NURPUR, APRIL 21
Sikander Rana, pradhan of Pandrer gram panchayat in Nurpur, has become a role model for the survival of government schools in rural areas as a number of such schools were facing closure due to a fall in the enrolment of pupils with each passing year.
Sikander Rana first succeeded in re-opening Government Primary School, Madanpur, which was closed during the academic session 2012-13 as none of the parents had enrolled their ward in the school.
The school was opened in 2002 but the lack of interest among parents in enrolling their wards had forced the Education Department to close this school.
This school was opened again by the department following the intervention of local MLA Rakesh Pathania, who had raised the issue in the Assembly last year.
Eighteen pupils have been enrolled in this school. They are being taught English in nursery class. No school fee is being charged from their parents.
The department has sanctioned two posts of teacher, but appointed only one in the beginning of the session.
Ramita Rana, who is MCA and wife of panchayat pradhan Sikander Rana, is also teaching them free of cost. Interestingly, Sikander got her daughter enrolled in the nursery class followed by Kuldeep Singh, ward member, who also enrolled his daughter.
The initiative motivated other residents of the village.
Before re-opening the school at Madanpur, the panchayat constructed a retaining wall, fixed floor tiles and gave a facelift to classrooms by painting and white-washing, utilising MGNREGA funds.
The locals also extended financial assistance to build toilets.
MLA Rakesh Pathania arranged a water cooler and desks.
The panchayat pradhan started an awareness drive in villages and motivated all parents in getting enrolled their children in the schools.
Now, the students’ strength in other schools of Pandrer gram panchayat has recorded a remarkable increase.
The panchayat has also initiated efforts for providing basic infrastructure to schoolchildren on the pattern of private schools.