NRIs give wings to dreams in school

The society — with seven office bearers — is located in Canada,since a majority of them are settled there. Spread across 3,100 square yards,the school building has been constructed and maintained by the society. There are about 400 children studying from Class I to Class XII.

The secretary of the society,Ranjeet Singh Sohi,said: “The school is around 60 years old,but we have been taking care of it since 2005. The society provided funds for construction of the building and now we are maintaining its infrastructure. Although the school is run by education department,we keep lending a hand whenever required.”

For instance,there are 16 permanent teachers and three adhoc teachers,he said. Earlier the three posts were vacant. The school authorities appointed the adhoc teachers,but it is the society which pays their salary.

“This way,from time to time,we help the school financially,paying salaries to teachers irrespective of the subjects they teach,” he said. To encourage academic excellence,the society also helps the students.

Kuldeep Singh,the coordinator of the society,said: “We provide financial help to needy and meritorious students of our school with school education as well as higher education. After passing the higher secondary boards,they receive scholarships. Each year we distribute scholarships of about Rs 3 lakh.”

Three students are selected from each class and so far,around 50 students have received help for higher education. “Now we have planned to help even those who improve in studies in the next class,” he added.

But before receiving financial help,the students have to give an undertaking that they will serve their alma mater after settling in life. “Recently we held the 15th scholarship distribution function and gave scholarships to 38 students for higher studies and 42 students who are in school,” Singh said. As for future plans,Sohi said: “We are planning to start science and commerce streams in Classes XI and XII. The building will be constructed with by the society at the earliest.”

The aim of the society is to make this government school better than private schools and increase its strength. “We want the school to be an example in itself,” Singh said.

“Our ultimate aim is to make this a model school,so students prefer it to any private school,” added Sohi.