A DREAM COMES TRUE
Vidyarambam which is conducting only part-time support class in the last 6 years is now venturing to run a full time regular school, that too in English medium.
Dinathanthi dated 05.06.2008
Rotary Club International has provided the opportunity to Vidyarambam Trust to take the challenge. The Tamil Nadu Govt. through the district administration of Nagapattinam (Tsunami-hit district) is supporting the project.
The Tsunami of December 26 2004 left a trail of death and destruction along the TamilNadu coast in south India. More than 7,000 persons perished in and around Nagapattinam. Tens of thousands were left homeless and the elderly and destitute in particular lived in pathetic conditions. Most dreadfully, hundreds of innocent children were orphaned, many of them losing both parents in the tragedy.
Rotary Club of Madras Central immediately joined the world wide planning and rehabilitation efforts.
The collector of Nagapattinam District outlined a vision which was a challenge and an opportunity to help those in desperate need. The challenge was accepted by Rotary and a complex comprising of a residential building to house 200 orphaned children, a primary school for the Tsunami affected children along with a senior citizens’ home.
Tamil Nadu Govt. sparing the land to the extent of 1.6 acres, Rotary built a complex with facility to integrate a home for orphans, a house for senior citizens and a primary school building which alone is of 8500 square feet. Though the school building was ready by July 2006, Rotary did not succeed in identifying a suitable NGO to establish and run a school until they contacted Vidyarambam.
In an agreement signed between Rotary and Vidyarambam, Rotary agreed to hand over the building with classrooms fully furnished and Vidyarambam agreed to fund and run the school. Primarily the orphan children will be admitted into the school and educated free of cost and to the extent of space and capacity available. Vidyarambam could enroll children from outside charging a very nominal fee.
This agreement encouraged the district administration of Nagapattinam to join the efforts and support the project in the interest of under privileged children. A tripartite agreement has been signed.
Vidyarambam has swung into action and has swiftly established the school named as “THE ROTARY CENTRAL VIDYARAMBAM NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL”.
On this memorable day of June 4, 2008, the school has been inaugurated by the honourable Tamil Nadu Govt. Minister for Dairy Development Mr. U. Mathivanan in the presence of many officials of the district administration, several Rotarians from Chennai and Nagapattinam, All parents of the admitted children witnessed the function with great hopes that their wards would be one of the best educated youth of the Nation. During the function, bags and books were presented by the Minister to the children.
Vidyarambam has chosen to run LKG, UKG, STD 1 and STD 2 to start with and carry forward the children with quality education up to STD 5. The opening strength is about 108 and at the time the 5th STD is introduced, we hope to have the full capacity of 250 students. Ninety-five percent of the children are from fishermen families and are first generation learners.
A special curriculum has been developed to teach languages, arithmetic, environmental science, life skills, Yoga, basics of computers, art and culture, indoor and outdoor games. The library will hold not only books but hundreds of toys and educational games. The successful methodology of Vidyarambam for teaching will be employed. Ultimately the children will be coached and prepared to take the Matriculation exams in English medium. Recognizing the proven ability of its own teaching staff, the school is fully manned by Vidyarambam’s experienced tutors drawn from different parts of the State.
The dream to run a MODEL SCHOOL has become true.