People Web International

MC Junior Girls Middle School, Singhpura is one of the schools that have emerged as one of the landmarks in adapting the teaching methodologies that I wanted my teachers to follow in schools that I have been supervising in my area. I am quite happy with their performance and I asked the teachers about the condition of the school before and after the adoption by CARE Foundation.

The story they narrated was quite interesting. The school before the adoption was famous for its brutal activities. The children used to get frightened by thinking only of sending to this school by their parents. They remember the time when the parents prefer sending their children to a private school rather then sending them to a government school. Beating up students for no particular reason was the normal practice; teachers used to carry a thick stick with them to frighten children and at times were also beaten up by the teachers. There were hardly any studies conducted by the teachers. Instead the time was utilized for personal favours, like asking students to bring eatables from homes and students were forced to press the legs, feet arms and hands of the teachers to pamper them. They were told not to speak anything against the teachers to any one visiting the school.

However when CARE adopted this school in 1999, the scenario of the school was changed. The people living in the vicinity for the first time witnessed that the teachers teach. At that time there were less than 100 students in the school.  Slowly the strength improved and now the school runs in two shifts. The teachers are very motivated and the students are inspired by the teachers. Here there are certain teachers who willingly speak in English through out the day. The newly developed culture is truly admiring for the community members and the CARE staff also.

-- by Asma Fakhr - PWI Reporter Punjab, Pakistan - punjab.pakistan@peoplewebinternational.com