PANJIM: Prasad Tendulkar scored 65 per cent at his SSC board exams in March 2014. After being a dropout from school in Class VIII, Prasad, though showing an aptitude for Mathematics and Accounting, found doors to reputed schools shut. That was when he got into the Mushtifund Open School, passed his Class X with a first class and is now pursuing Commerce.
Prasad followed in the footsteps of his sister Krutika. She too passed with 50 per cent marks in Class XII from the open school, a few years back and is now working in an IT company. “Without open school, things would have been very difficult for students like me,” says Krutika, who is now planning to pursue her studies in software.
“I was very interested in Accounting but was poor in other subjects and hence had to drop out in Class VIII. But in the open school, I am now able to fulfill my dream,” Prasad said.
Both Prasad and Krutika are thankful to Mushtifund Open School that has trained and educated nearly 1,283 students in Classes X and XII since its inception seven years ago. The school, whose students are now pursuing careers in Indian defence forces, law and other professions, has approached the Union Ministry for Human Resource Development (HRD) to grant it recognition.
Pooja Parab, who secured 65 per cent marks in SSC exams from open school, was also a dropout from Class XI as she was weak in Science. When she had no other option left, she thought of pursuing her education through the open school.
On the lines of India’s leading National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Mushtifund Saunstha started Mushtifund Open School in 2007 to cater to the needs of dropouts. The school that started with a small batch of total 12 students, eight in SSC and four in HSSC, today has a strength of 280 students, who would be appearing for Board exams next year.
“Initially our institution concentrated on dropouts because the percentage of dropouts every year turns out to be high. But later when we started interacting with students, we realised that these students had a good intellectual level and due to some unavoidable circumstances could not do well in their formal education,” Principal of the Open School, Neena Naik told Herald.
“These dropouts are despised in schools and also at home and are likely to indulge in anti-social activities. I noticed these students loitering all around the cities. When I approached them, I realised that because of some reason these children could not continue their education within the formal system,” Naik said explaining how she thought of starting an open school in the city.
The school that saw only 12 students in the first batch, took a huge jump the very next year – 2008-09 – when 59 students joined the classes. The number went on increasing. In the last seven years ending in March 2013, a total of 636 students appeared for SSC exams while 369 answered HSSC exams conducted by the Goa Board.
As per the information, every year, except in the first two years, school result has been close to 80 per cent in both the streams, with two per cent securing distinction, eight to nine per cent getting first class and 40 per cent securing second class.
“Most of the students belong to middle class families. I won’t call them dropouts as they have the capability. Their education basically suffered due to lack of interest in a particular subject or family disturbance or unsuitable surroundings,” Naik said, adding that more than 60 per cent of students who pass out, complete their graduation in Arts and Commerce. “There are many who have pursued MA, MCom and Law. We have even students who have joined Indian defence forces,” she said proudly.
With just seven faculty members, students here are taught subjects like Home Science, Business Studies, English, Mass Communication, Computer and Painting.
