2 weeks Ago By Debjani Dutta
PUDUCHERRY: Walls etched with graffiti, the putrid stench of dirty toilets, classrooms with crumbling walls and pillars revealing rough patches of red bricks and switchboards with wires hanging out. Dr BR Ambedkar Higher Secondary School, a rural government school in Embalam, was the antonym of a model school, till a few years ago. Several parents did not bat an eye and transferred their wards from the school, leaving 460 students spread across classes 6 to 12 at the mercy of the decrepit school.
When M Karunagaran left a government clerical job to pursue his passion for teaching and joined government school in Kirumampakkam as vice principal in July 2023, the school was deplorable with disciplinary issues and a lack of leadership. Therein began a journey to transform the school into a haven of learning. After gathering inputs from students, he tackled the sanitation issue first by mobilising resources from within the community, alumni, and his personal network, raising Rs 40,000 to repair the toilets and another Rs 2.
65 lakh for other sanitation facilities, eliminating the stench that had previously permeated the school. Each student was provided with a set of two big towels to ensure they had a clean place to sit for meals. Karunagaran further raised an additional Rs 7 lakh, with Rs 5 lakh using the government’s SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) funds to renovate the main school building and with a fresh coat of blue paint, the colour picked by the students.
“All civil works were carried out with the involvement of the students. They kept records of the supplies and monitored the work’s progress,” said Karunagaran. He also reopened the higher secondary block, which was mostly unused due to disciplinary issues.
As many as four RO water purifiers were set up through the funds. A common room, a sanitary napkin vending machine and an incinerator were installed for girls to use during menstruation. The room also has RO drinking water and first aid kits.
The class 12 computer laboratory was revived and a new computer lab for class 10 was established through funds from SBI Ariyankuppam. Additionally, a reception counter with a TV was set up to keep students well-informed. In just a year, he spearheaded the establishment of an outdoor science theme park, a mathematics laboratory, a social art gallery, an e-library, an aquarium with a fountain, an electronic laboratory, agriculture vocational education training, and a herbal garden, making learning hands-on.
The teachers also put in their efforts to support the initiatives. While most government schools face a shortage of teachers, Karunagaran ensured that classes did not get affected on this account. “We manage by assigning more classes to available subject teachers, use the vocational stream teachers as well as special teachers for Children with Special needs (CWSN),” said Karunagaran.
“I take maths classes myself, wherever there is a necessity,” he added. Walls etched with graffiti now carry information regarding career prospects. “Detailed information on courses, institutions, entrance tests, and the preparation required to succeed is available to them,” he said.
Karunagaran also introduced a structured approach to discipline. He mandated ID cards, school diaries, and shoes for higher secondary students. A Disciplinary Committee, led by student leaders, now ensures that students uphold the school’s code of conduct, and hygiene leaders promote cleanliness.
Alumni of government schools and local organisations, moved by Karunagaran’s efforts, started providing additional support. Contribution of Rs 9.66 lakh from the PETIT Seminaire Higher Secondary School alumni (Karunagaran’s alma mater), Tagore Government Arts and Science College alumni (Rs 1.
1 lakh), the present headmaster and former teachers (Rs 1.14 lakh), alumni of Kunichampet Government Higher Secondary school (Rs 10,000) and Dr Ambedkar GHSS, Kirumampakkam alumni (Rs 30,000) have funded resources ranging from library books to classroom supplies. As a testament to positive changes, the school’s pass rates have surged from 74% in class 12 and 85% in class 10 to 80.
2% and 87.5% respectively. Two students of the school, Madhumitha and Swathi secured admissions in Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute in Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences respectively.
The school also achieved a 100% pass. In January 2024, the school’s transformation was recognised with the prestigious Ambadi Rolling Trophy for Best Higher Secondary School, awarded by the L-G of Puducherry during the Republic Day celebrations. For Karunagaran, this recognition is both an honour and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership.
Reflecting on his journey, Karunagaran says, “I saw this as an opportunity to bring out the potential in each child. I believe that the changes at Dr Ambedkar School serve as a blueprint for rural schools across the country, proving that with dedication, community support, and a student-centred approach, government schools can offer a high-quality education at par with private institutions.” Today, the students of the school in Kirumampakkam walk with newfound confidence.
They are no longer limited by the resources of a rural school but empowered by a quality learning environment that nurtures their growth and curiosity..
