Govt school in Bolina witnesses 28% hike in student enrolment

During admissions this year, there has been a 28 per cent increase in student enrolment at the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) in Bolina, East block I, Jalandhar. Why most parents want to send their children to the government school in Bolina?

The reasons are many. At this school, students study in air-conditioned classrooms. School rooms are colour coded. The school has in-house infirmary. Every classroom has a projector. Not a drop of water goes waste. Solar panels power the school premises. Specially hired coaches train students. Students play in-house table tennis. They hold their own Chabeels five times in a year. Students decide what food they are going have for mid-day meal. Every year, 150 trees are planted and sustained by students.

The school gets students from Guru Gobind Singh Avenue and Surya Enclave and Sheikhe, Chuhrwali, Badhiana and Nangal Shama villages among other places.

A visionary principal and her supportive staff have turned learning into a fairy tale. At this school charity begins at the staff room.

Apart from air-conditioners (ACs) for sixth and seventh grade students, Class VIII pupils too will get this facility soon. The school has a rainwater harvesting system. Water from ACs and ROs is reused for washing and laundry. The school has its own kabaddi, football and dance coaches who are hired on money contributed by the staff.

The infirmary has facilities for giving first aid. Doctors from the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences and Shrimann Hospital visit infirmary. All teachers are trained to give first aid.

Students of Class VI avail special facilities that include ACs, royal blue classroom, individual chair and tables and interactive touchscreens. All classrooms have projectors. Library’s furniture is recycled.

School Principal Rita Paul says, “A diabetic student, who could not study in heat, was on the verge of dropping out from school. An AC were installed to help him study in comfortable environment. The first AC was a gift from a teacher who was blessed with a grandchild.”

Every staff member contributes a set amount of money to school’s Guru Nanak Fund every month. This money, is used to fulfil students’ needs. The staff even facilitates ration disbursal at homes of students whose families are facing financial crisis. Special kids with learning disabilities are identified and ensured that they can avail benefits of government schemes.

Interestingly, before two recent transfers of male staff members to the school, the institution was headed by an all-women team that included principal and teachers.

The school also holds special guest lectures on topics as varied as CPR, legal rights, banking and art. All students will undergo eye test and be given free spectacles during an upcoming event. Last year, three students got the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. A plus two school topper Mannat bagged 96 per cent marks this year.

During the Shaheedi Gurpurab in May, school students organised their own chabeel. Ahead of this event, the school served chole bhature as part of an annual five-time ritual of selected mid-day meal. Other favourites served to students include “tandoori naan, rajma- chawal and kheer”.

Every year, saplings brought by former village sarpanch are planted by students. Last year 150 saplings were planted in July. One student plants one sapling.

Rita Paul said, “We are all just dreamers. The common aim is to give best all round education to our students. We prioritise our funds based on their needs. In our staff room, gender or hierarchy don’t play a role. Everyone is free to say what he/she feels. The aim is to promote free thinking and empathy among students. We also plan to start a free bus service for students soon as some of them come from remote areas.”

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Jalandhar