Our vision
Good knowledge of English has become the most important feature of our education system. Whether pursuing higher education, or competing in the job market, good command of English is a must. In Rising Sun, effort is made to make the base of English learning strong. This will help the students much when they migrate to other schools for higher classes.
Setting up an English medium school in rural India runs into the reality of the shortage of teachers capable of teaching. I found that just like the kids, the local housewives were eager to learn and teach. I train the teachers first and make them ready to speak in English with the children. Now, we have a staff of nearly 10 teachers.
The teaching system is novel and highly interactive. Audio-visual and play-way method of teaching ensures that children enjoy learning. Games and sports, exercises and yoga make the children active and lively. Drawing, colouring, dramatisation and music classes help to cultivate children’s artistic qualities.
Our origins
We used to regularly visit our village home near the district town of Purulia in West Bengal. On one visit, I came across a number of 5-6 year old children playing on the street of a poorer area at 9 in the morning. On being questioned why they were playing, there when they should be in school, they replied that they did not go to any school. When I asked their mothers the reason for not sending children to any school, they told that children went to the Government Primary school just for mid-day meals. Nobody teaches any lessons there. Children do not attend any private school, as parents cannot afford to pay the fees. I was aghast. Here were innocent kids, full of promise and they were being denied the opportunity to get education.
I had always nurtured a deep desire to start a school where the need is great. I decided that I would start a school in our village itself for educating these children. The biggest barrier to attending schools according to the parents was the expense. But they were all eager for their children to be in a school. That was the beginning of my journey. BDM Rising Sun started its journey on Jan. 1, 2017 with 3 children. Now there are several children from comparatively well-to-do families who pay Rs. 100 per month, while about a third of them do not have to pay anything.
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Chitralekha Ojha
Founder