Bantwal: A government school in Daddalakadu on the verge of closure in the year 2015 has received a new lease life from a local friends club, which has set an example for others to follow.

The school located in Moodanadugodu gram Panchayath was on the verge of closure with strength of less than 30 students in 2015. At this point of time members of a local friends club named Durga Friends’ Club thought of breathing life into the same school. As a first step all the members of the club withdrew their children from other schools and enrolled them to the said government school, which increased the strength of the school from 30 to 56.

Then, the club opened pre-primary section in the school, which encouraged parents from neighbouring villages to send their little pre-schoolers to the school.

As days went by they adopted the school and managed to get permission from higher authorities to start 8th standard. In addition they managed to get more women as teachers and teachers well-versed in English language, which gave the parents a sense of confidence that even teachers in government school are in the position to speak and teach good English.

Their efforts started reaping rich dividends as the school today boasts of strength close to 189 and the figure is likely to go beyond 200 by this June.

The school has also imbibed modern teaching techniques, competing with any other reputed private school in the vicinity. This has prevented the students from changing school.

The school provides free meals, milk, text and note books under government scheme and the friends’ Club members are providing transport facilities.

The model adopted by Durga Friends Club has made the parents turn to Daddalakadu School for all good reasons. It is time friends’ clubs elsewhere too follows the same path and restore the glory of the local schools.