Telugu school sets example in Navsari

NAVSARI: A Telugu primary school which was started way back in 1964 in Gandevi of Navsari district has set an example of what interest in education can do for children for rest of the government schools in the district.

The school was started by the local Telugu community and presently it offers education till Class V. The school is registered with the education department of district panchayat and receives grants as well. The school has four rooms with strength of 63 students, which include 30 boys and 33 girls. Syllabus followed by Andhra Pradesh board is taught here by three teachers, who also belong to the same state.

"Every year I visit Andhra Pradesh to bring textbooks for the students. Students are offered free textbooks, notebooks and mid-day meals regularly. Four languages, including Telugu, Hindi, English and Gujarati, along with other subjects are taught here with Telugu as teaching medium," says Chalamaiah Anagamdula, school principal and teacher. Though the staff is from outside state, teachers fluently speak and write Gujarati language.

"We teach children such that after class V, they don't face difficulty while studying in Gujarati or other medium schools," adds Anagamdula.

Presently, about 100 families from Telugu community reside in Gandevi, most of them being handloom workers. Children from these families study in this school. "In our community education holds great importance. We read religious books and in order to read these books one has to be educated. Hence there is high ratio of education among our community," opined Sankarrao Master, former school principal.

"It's true that south Indian communities are more inclined to education as compared to other communities. But it is changing now and even Gujarati people understand the value of education. Parents' involvement in their children's academics has increased, which is a positive sign," informed J K Visiya, district primary education officer, Navsari.

Courtesy: TOI