Category Archives: stories

Meet a few GKV Children..

GKV started in 2009 with about 145 children in classes LKG,UKG and class 1. Since then one class has been added every academic year to reach the current strength of 420 children.  Not surprisingly the drop out rate of children has been very low  showing the value that these families in rural communities place to low-cost English medium education. Below is a brief profile who have grown and blossomed with GKV over the last 5 years.

Class 4 children : 

Class 5 children:

Teachers of GKV

As in any school the teaching staff at GKV is pivotal  for the learning, development and success of the children. GKV started with 6 teachers in 2009 for LKG, UKG and Class 1. There are currently 13 teachers for 12 classes. This includes 4 teachers who are there from the beginning ie from 2009 and 4 teachers who were added in June 2013. These teachers are all graduates with some prior teaching experience. And importantly, they are extremely passionate about teaching at GKV and driving the learning of the children here.

These teachers are periodically exposed to training on newer methods of teaching and also get opportunities to observe visiting teachers taking classes. The photo below has all the teachers of GKV with Mrs. Asha Sharma – a teacher from Sishu Griha montessori and high school in Bangalore who took classes for GKV children on 23rd and 24rth of January 2014.

IMG_6101

Teachers of GKV with Mrs. Asha Sharma – a teacher from Sishu Griha,Bangalore

Mrs. Asha Sharma - teacher visiting from Bangalore - taking class

Mrs. Asha Sharma – teacher visiting from Bangalore – taking class

 

 

Gita Krishnamurthy Vidyalaya Students profile summary

 

GKV Assembly

GKV Assembly in a ground near the school buildings

GKV school started in June 2009 with the intake of 153 children between LKG,UKG and Class 1. Subsequently one class has been added in each of the academic years 2010-11,2011-12,2012-13 and 2013-14 with an intake of between 80 and 95 children across all classes. In total, over the last 5 years 495 children have been admitted to the school. Out of this about 15% have left mainly due to their parents being migrant labour. As a result the school currently has a strength of 420 children.

One of the guiding principles of the school is to give preference to children from socially and economically backward families. Further, all other factors being equal, the school gives preference to a girl child with the goal that overall at least 50% children in the school should be girls. Today out of the 420 children 218, that is 52%, are girls.

The class wise strength and breakup is as follows:

Class strength % girls % boys
LKG 75 53 47
UKG 75 51 49
 I 73 56 44
 II 70 43 57
III 60 52 48
IV 32 50 50
V 35 63 37
TOTAL 420 52 48

Over 80% of the children are from BC/MBC community while 17% are from SC and the remaining 3% from OC. The school does not discriminate based on religion. While 86% of the children are of Hindu parentage, 11% are from Muslim families and 3% from Christian families.  From economic point of view while 25% of parents have an annual income of over Rs 40,000  , 11% have an income less than Rs 20,000 per annum and a majority of 64% earn between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 per year. Based on data collected at the time of admissions a vast majority of the children are first generation school goers.

Visitors from Emanuel School London

Fourteen Lower Sixth (Grade 11) students of Emanuel School,London  led by their  Senior Chaplain Rev. Paul Hunt,  teachers Miss Fitzgibbon and  Mrs Morrison-Bartlett and Miss Rosie Ellery  – a teacher from Christ Church School, Battersea (Emanuel’s  local partner primary school) spent three weeks in July and August at  GKV and Jai Sankara School. This is the second year of such a visit and with a formal partnership between GKV and Emanuel School this is now planned to be an annual affair. The students  taught English conversation and pronunciation to 3rd,4th and 5th class children of GKV in groups of 6 children. Miss Rosie Ellery took Maths and English lessons for the older children as well as teaching nursery rhymes for LKG children  through actions. It was a wonderful learning experience for the children as well as the visitors for UK.  See the blog written by one of the students  for a daily report of their visit to India.

Rosie Ellory of Christ Church School teaching Maths to GKV class 3 children

Emanuel student teaching English to GKV children in groups of 6

Emanuel Student teaching English to GKV students in small groups

Rev. Paul Hunt and Miss Rosie Ellery have committed to try and raise funds for GKV from their students, staff and parents in UK  as part of a long term relationship with GKV. This will be a tremendous help to GKV and is highly appreciated!