School in Rajasthan that looks like a railway station
New Delhi: If you visit Alwar’s Government Senior Secondary School, Railway Station, don’t be mistaken that you are on a railway platform where train bogies and an engine are stationed.
The Government Senior Secondary School, Railway Station, situated about 160 km from capital Jaipur, has carved a niche for itself by giving a look of a railway station.
The reason for giving a distinct look, according to the principal of the school is, “Children are fascinated by trains and they enjoy travelling with them. School buildings should look attractive to become attractive for students,” said principal Purushottam Gupta, according to a report in Hindustan Times.
The classrooms have been painted like passenger compartments, the principal’s office given a look of an engine and the veranda that of a platform.
When Alwar’s Government Senior Secondary School, Railway Station was started, it was barely 50 metres from the station and ran from a heritage building. However some years back, the school shifted to a housing board colony 2 km away, but the name was still intact with it.
The inspiration for painting railway theme has come from Kerala and there’s a story behind it.
Two months back, when Junior Engineer of district Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Rajesh Lawania saw a government school in Kerala painted like a railway coach, the thought of Alwar’s Government Senior Secondary School, Railway Station at once came to his mind.
Till now five classrooms have already been painted to look like a train.
The Junior Engineer said before the end of April, we would paint two classrooms like the Jaipur-Delhi double-decker train and the other two classrooms like the Ajmer-Delhi Shatabdi Express.
The boundary wall of school has been given the look of a goods train, with wagons carrying inspirational messages for children.
RDNC Mittal Foundation that adopted the school four years ago has provided aid to give a facelift to the school’s building.
“When we adopted it, there were only four classrooms for 10 classes and no toilets. In four years, we have spent close to Rs 40 lakh on the construction of new classrooms, veranda, toilets and repair of rooftops,” said foundation chairman Dr SC Mittal, according to a report in Hindustan Times.
The Education Department in Rajasthan would observe a 15-day Pravesh Utsav from May 1 to 15, where teachers go door-to-door to convince people to send their children to government schools, which are losing out bright students to private schools that offer English medium education and better facilities. However, school principal feels the new look of the school would definitely attract more students to the school, thereby increasing the enrolment.
