[ via Times of India ]
PATNA: In a remote corner of the state, at Chamanpura village of Gopalganj district, a story is unfolding of unique enterprise and innovative methods in school education.
Situated about 30 km from Gopalganj, this school, known as Chaitanya Gurukul Public School, was founded in 2009 by an ex-IITian, Chandrakant Singh, now based in Bangalore.
Bereft of electricity till date, about 450 children, both boys and girls, are imparted lessons in physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer through Skype, video conferencing and Internet. Eight of Singh’s associates, sitting in various corners of the world, have joined hands to teach children right from Class I to Class VII, through video-conferencing. Apart from distance learning, 16 teachers, who reside on the campus, are helping the students in their studies. Here, teachers mark their attendance using a biometric finger-printer and students too log their attendance in computers.
The computers run on gensets owned by the school. Once computers were in place, the teaching did not have to wait. Pankaj Kumar of NTPC, a technocrat, teaches physics from Singrauli. Working with HAL, Sanjay Rai, an alumnus from BITS, Pilani, teaches chemistry from Korwa in UP, while M Vats, a US-based technocrat teachers math.
“With a view to providing world-class, technology-enabled education to the children of this backward village, where I was born and where I had my primary schooling, I set up this institution,” said Singh.
The push came when the Mahartashtra Navnirman Sena was attacking Bihari migrants in Mumbai. Singh then decided to do something immediately for his home town. “I was greatly disturbed, and wanted to arrest the migration of students from Bihar in my small way,” he said.
He then sought the advice of Surya Narayan, dean of IIT, Bombay, who was his teacher also. Narayan suggested him to make a plan for revenue-generating, self-sustaining model instead of taking the charity route. Singh then prepared a blueprint and e-mailed it to 3,000 friends, eight of whom agreed to fund it.
After the state government approved the proposal, the friends, who formed a trust, met the villagers and convinced them about the school. Within three months, they had 13 acres of land — from 100 villagers, who sold plots from 3 decimals to an acre in the area. Soon a big building started coming up, a part of which is still under construction.
With quality class rooms and campus, tuition fee starts from Rs 300 for Class I and is increased annually by Rs 100 as a child goes to a higher class. However, the school is run on self-sustaining basis, and not for profit. Chandrakant himself is doing his job, but takes classes through video-conferencing. Every year, one more class is sought to be opened at the school.
The story of Chaitanya Gurukul Public School is a testament to how innovation and determination can bridge the education gap in even the most remote regions. With a foundation rooted in technology-driven learning, the school has successfully integrated modern tools like biometric attendance and video conferencing to bring world-class education to students who otherwise might have lacked access.
This model not only highlights the power of digital learning but also underscores the importance of structured educational resources that support both teachers and students in their journey. In this regard, platforms like https://15worksheets.com play a crucial role in supplementing such initiatives by providing high-quality worksheets that reinforce learning across subjects. Whether it’s practice exercises for mathematics, science revision sheets, or grammar drills, these ready-to-use resources help educators create a more interactive and effective classroom experience.
As Chaitanya Gurukul continues to grow, adding new classes each year, the integration of diverse learning materials—both digital and print—ensures that students receive a well-rounded education. With forward-thinking educators like Chandrakant Singh leading the way, and with the support of global contributors and structured resources, schools like this set a precedent for how quality education can thrive against all odds.
Read more: Ex-IITian starts world-class school in Bihar village – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Ex-IITian-starts-world-class-school-in-Bihar-village/articleshow/7419365.cms#ixzz1D0BQ8GrI