ENGLISH MEDIUM IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SECTION by Mrs Shilpa

ENGLISH MEDIUM IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SECTION

“True education is the real passport for the growth and development of a child “.

Almost half of the world’s population lives in villages and the biggest drawback of living in a rural area is the lack of access to good education and the awareness regarding the need for the same.  The growth of the children in these areas is stunted because of no proper basic facilities, poverty, lack of support from the parents, and the absence of schools in the area.

Bajpe was (is) one such rural area located in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. This place saw the coming of two  Christian Brothers  in the year 1977 with the vision of Blessed  Edmund Rice to  empower the economically poor and socially marginalized youth, through the medium of  education  and to awaken their hidden potential for the building of a great nation. They realized the need of quality education in order to improve a rural area. Hence, they took over the management of the high school/college already existing. The medium of instruction in school was Kannada.

            As years passed by, many whose mother tongue is not Kannada  came to Bajpe in search of jobs as there were  many opportunities in this place because of the airport and companies like MRPL. The need for an English medium school was realized with their coming as English is the most widely spoken, most influential language in the world. Globally English is the vehicle of communication for scientific and technological information.  In order to keep abreast with the world, management took the initiative of starting English medium in June 1983. Initially, Kannada was the first language and English was the second language and later it was interchanged. Since its inception, St. Joseph’s remains the only AIDED English medium school in the vicinity. The students studying in the English medium get all the facilities provided by the government. The same teachers teach both the English and the Kannada medium sections, and hence a sense of equality prevails among the students.

Here is the list of facilities available to the students:

Ø Free text books, mid-day meals, bicycles, folic and iron tablets, milk etc.

Ø Eligibility to answer talent search exams like NMMS, NTSE, which make the students eligible for scholarship from the government

Ø Opportunity for students to enroll in NCC

Ø Discount of examination fees to economically backward students and incentive to merit students

Ø Sports and bravery awards

Ø Medical assistance

Ø Opportunities to mingle and work hand in hand with all the students towards the progress of the school.

Ø Ample opportunities to take part in various curricular and co-curricular activities

In retrospect, St Joseph’s P U College has been a boon to the people of Bajpe.  It has not only educated thousands of students but also given wings to dreams to soar high up in the skies. Today, the students of St. Joseph’s P U College are spread across the world sharing the values that they once learnt as students.

Mrs Shilpa