This school is self-reliant in vegetables, fruits

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School at Keddalike in Bantwal taluk is a school with a difference. When almost all educational institutions are pressuring their students to focus on studies, this school emphasises equally on education and farming activities.

The school has developed its own vegetable garden. The garden is grown and maintained by the school children along with teachers.

This year, 138 students of the school have planted 28 varieties of fruit- bearing saplings under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The parents helped the kids in digging the pit to plant saplings.

The name of the child, class and name of the fruit-bearing plant is mentioned near each sapling. The students also feel a sense of responsibility towards protecting these saplings planted by them around the school campus. The students visit the saplings daily and enjoy the way it grows, said Head master Ramesh Nayak.

The concept of kitchen garden was developed about five years ago to impart information to children on agricultural activities. Teams of students from fourth standard to seventh standard turns everyday to water and manure plants along with teachers. Younger students from I to IV are also involved in gardening. This year ridge gourd, cucumber, brinjal, spinach, okra, ivy gourd, papaya (Tiwan variety), drum sticks and long yard beans have been grown in the school. Along with this, there is breadfruit, pineapple, coconut and banana in the garden.

The garden is spread over one-and-half acre of land. “We believe in going beyond the classroom. Lessons must aim to teach students about the native culture. They must be more practical. We also make sure that children get to eat the vegetables they grow. This encourages them to eat healthy vegetables free from chemicals,” said the head master.

Even the admission of students to first standard is observed with fun fare. The senior students welcome the kids with flowers, fruits and memento and the mother is made to write the name of the child in rice.

The walls of the school are painted with meaningful quotes. Students of this higher primary school have also been provided the opportunity of learning through radio. The children are taken for a tour without collecting single paise from the children every year, said Nayak.

A slew of students’ associations like ‘parisara club,’  ‘grahakara club,’ ‘makkala hakkugala club,’ ‘Meena club,’ science club, maths club, literary club and sports club add to the robust learning process in the school. There’s even a team that maintains the records of different activities organised in the school.

The school has eight staff members. Nayak is all praise for the School Development and Monitoring Committee and villagers for their support and encouragement.  Committee President Divakara Das teaches children Yakshagana. Students are also taught music, dance and computer along with curriculum.

Students said that the activity helps them learn about vegetables, teaches them to be self-reliant and inculcates love for environment among them. “The concept of kitchen garden is slowly gaining acceptance with more schools introducing fruit and vegetable gardening,” said Head master.