Rise For Good Series/ ARISE Schools Take The Top Spot

Dear Friends,

2018 is starting off on a heart-warming note. Every year, the Bangalore municipal corporation (BBMP) holds ‘Guru Vandana’, a felicitation program for the best performing schools and teachers. BBMP gave awards to the five best primary municipal schools. We are very proud to share that of those five best primary schools, three are schools that are supported by our ARISE (All Round Improvement in School Education) program. The first place went to the ARISE school in Jogupalya, the second to the ARISE school in Lakkasandra and the ARISE school in Chinnayanpalya took fourth place.

Chronic absenteeism, poor or no lesson planning, badly maintained classrooms, and very little parent engagement are issues that plague many of our municipal schools, consequently leading to low enrolment. The municipal schools in Bangalore were no different – until ARISE started to work its magic. Through ARISE, we bring about an overall improvement in teachers, school resources and maintenance, the curriculum and community engagement.

Each of these schools has seen a rise in student enrolment since ARISE began. One of the schools had only 10 students, and little more than a year later has more than 100. The schools now have teachers who are interested in teaching, who make the effort to plan lessons and spark the children’s interest, rather than merely marking time. They have resource rooms for science, mathematics, and English, and computer laboratories. Extra-curricular activities like sports and art have been introduced. The award evaluation committee spent a full day observing school activities and taking note of how the teachers and children interact with one another. The results of the observation speak for themselves.

The ARISE team in Bangalore is showing that our municipal schools are not broken beyond repair, that where there is a will, we will find a way!