How Government Schools in Kerala is Changing the Way We Look at Them

When it comes to the education sector, Kerala has always had a success story in its credit. Over the last 10 years, the government schools in Kerala witnessed a rise in student strength. Government schools in the villages and in the suburbs of the cities have started developing the basic infrastructure by introducing smart classrooms along with other needed facilities like a library, sports & games facilities, toilets and more. All of this was made possible because the state has explored and pioneered various good governance models in the past. Most of the government schools in the villages imparted free education and encouraged students to join. Besides, many entrepreneurs from Kerala, pursuing their business activities outside the state have been keen on developing the infrastructure of various government educational institutions in Kerala, as they came to know about their poor conditions. UAE based Indian couple; Faizal and Shabana Kottikolon have literally changed the destiny of a school, located in the suburbs of a city in Kerala. They renovated a 120-year-old government school to a flag bearer of excellence. The Nadakkavu Government Vocational Higher Secondary School (GVHSS) for girls at Calicut is now internationally famed for its unique stature among other schools. The school has been ranked as the No. 2 government school in India in the Educational World (EW) India School Rankings in 2019-2020. It was in 2015, that the Nadakkavu GVHSS underwent an infrastructural transformation, owing to its crumbling status. The couple found the school is lacking basic infrastructure. The school housed classes for around 2,400 girls but had only eight toilets. Nutrition problems were another major issue. Such a dilapidated condition of the school even resulted in absenteeism and a high dropout rate. Faizal and Shabana joined hands with Mr. Pradeep Kumar, local MLA and developed the school with international standards. New classrooms along with sophisticated and well-stocked library were built. Old walls were pulled down and designed new ones. Teacher's training programs were introduced through IIM Calicut. All these improved the self-esteem of the students as well as teachers. The major attraction of the school is an Astroturf stadium, considered to be the first in any school in the State. The news has gone its rounds in social media and entrepreneurs across the world appreciated and started following the generous act initiated by Faizal and Shabana. Sharing with you a comment posted by one such person who has been inspired by the couple. Similarly, a school in Malappuram district of  Kerala also went through an infrastructure overhaul, interestingly with the aid from an IAS officer, management students from a premier institute, and the local community. Established in 1918, the Government Lower Primary School, at Pookkottur in Kerala’s Malappuram district had less than 200 students in 2015-16. With the combined effort taken by Muhammed Ali Shihab, a 2011 batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre along with PTA, a group of students and the local community, the school today houses 470 students. Using local MP and MLA funds, they raised Rs 1.75 crore and the school now has smart classrooms, a library, restrooms, an air-conditioned auditorium, amphitheater, a children’s park and a botanical garden.