I did a site visit of a few schools that are supported as part of Project Sangamam on the independence day. The intention was to partly participate in the functions at the schools, interact with the teachers and students and to understand how the computers we have recently supplied to the schools are being used.
 
I drove from Chennai and first went to the Panchayat Union school at SSA Korattur. There I met Srinivasan our coordinator for this project. Before the Independence day function started, I spent the time with Srinivanan, the 3 government teachers and our Asha teacher Thangamani. The school has 70 students and 3 govt teachers. Tangamani has a PGDCA (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science). So she also travels around to other schools supported in Project Sangamam. Since the 3 governement teachers are themselves more or less adequate, Thangamani travelling for some of the days does not create problems.

The independence day function took place as usual with flag hoisting and speeches. The children also staged a small function. We enjoyed the functions.

After these functions, there was small ribbon cutting ceremony for the Asha computer lab. Of the four computers donated for this school, two of them are functioning. These are already being used. But the teachers wanted a formal opening as I was also there. Thangamani explained to us about what was being taught to the children. They were primarily teaching the children how to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Paint. Two children came up and demonstrated how they use these tools. There are certainly lots of opportunities to more effectively use these computers to teach the children about using computers as well as to teach them other subjects more effectively. Asha needs to work towards these.

One thing heartening was that the Panchayat had also on its part done several things to improve the school. They had a new playground (slightly elevated so that it doesnt get flooded) and a new panchayat library adjacent to the school. One of the long running requests of the school was for a fencing around the pond in front of the school. This has also recently been provided by the Panchayat.


We next visited Kotta medu, one of the schools in the area that has been requesting our support. The school is close to SSA Korattur in a place called Pudhuchathiram. The school has about 160 children and 5 government teachers. The school has a compact ground but was very clean and well run. The buildings were all in good shape and there was a compound wall around the school. The main problem the school faces is that an additional 50 children from the nearby brick kilns comes to the school every year during the January to June time frame when the brick kilns are operational. There are nearly 20 brick kilns that are operating in the vicinity.

The flag hoisting had already completed at this school. But the cultural programme by the students was going on. I attended this. The Head Mistress asked me to support the school by providing an additional teacher. This would greatly help them during the January to June period. The school function was also attended by some Rotary club (I think) members from Thiruvallur. They were also supporting the school. 


After this we fimally went to Kuppammal Chathiram. This is the school that we have been supporting for the longest time with Project Sangamam. Deivanayagi is the Asha teacher at this school. The school has 75 children and 2 government teachers. Sailaja, another floating teacher who trains the teachers in our schools on computers was also there.

By the time I went to the school the Independence day functions were already over. I cut the ribbon and "opened" the computer center here as well. They once again showed us how the computers are being used. This was similar to the SSA Korattur. One of the disappointing this about the school has been that the number of students at the school has been constantly dropping. It was about 120 when we started working with the school. It is now about 75. The main reason for this is the presence of a English medium school (Richard's convent) right adjacent to the school. The plesant surprise was that this year finally the trend was reversed that the enrollment in the first standard is significantly higher than that in the second and third standards. There are now 22 children in the first standard compared to 14 in 15 in the second and third standards. The presence of computers the teachers say is the biggest factor in attracting the children!

Here again it was heartening to see the Panchayat was also contributing to enhancing the infrastructure at the school. The Kitchen which was pending improvements for a long time, has been rebuilt. The school has also been provided with a compound wall.

With that I wrapped up my trip and headed back to Chennai.