Even though this mini-school was closed and I couldn’t meet the teacher personally, I wanted to profile her and her mini-school as well. Selvi had been a teacher with Asha for many years. She started as a regular teacher and then learnt and became a computer teacher. During Corona, she went through many of the life’s major transitions along with Asha. She got married in Jan 2021 and closed the mini-school in October as she went on her maternity leave. Before her marriage she was teaching at the Ammambakkam mini-school. What I felt was remarkable was that within 2 weeks of her marriage, she resumed work and started a mini-school in her new house! I wanted to ask her about it. So I talked to her and a bunch of children over Google meet. Selvi’s sister-in-law was also at hand to hold the phone for me to be able to see everyone.
I taught at Ammambakkam for 5 to 6 month before my marriage. I taught there along with Radhika. After marriage I have been running the mini-school here at Pattarai Perumbudur.
How did you start the mini-school here so soon after marriage?
I informed my husband’s family about this even before the marriage. They were fully supportive of my running the mini-school.
How was your family financial situation affected by Covid?
My father is a sanitation worker and mother does MGNREGA work. My salary was critical for our family. My husband’s family was doing alright. But my salary certainly helps.
Did you have any problems running the mini-school?
Both the Ammabakkam and Pattarai Perumbudur mini-schools were working inside schools. But they couldn’t continue there. In Pattarai Perumbudur, I taught the mini-school inside the school only for a couple of weeks. Then I had to move the mini-school to my house.
How was the experience of starting a mini-school?
Managing all the classes from 1 to 8 was a major challenge. I wasn’t sure about how to run my own mini-school. I was afraid, I may not be able to manage it. But I was able to manage that. Preparing to teach all the different classes was a lot of work.
The children’s parents were very surprised that we were running this without any fees. When the school started the children started from zero. She needed to teach all the classes from the most basics.
How was the mini-school different from regular schools?
In the school we have to teach only one or two classes at a time. But in the mini-schools you have to teach all classes from 1 to 8. Here the focus was not on the textbooks but on conceptual clarity. We often used Worksheets for this. We were also doing a lot more craft activities and science experiments. I got interested in all these only after starting mini-schools. I didn’t know how to cover multiple classes within a limited time. I managed to conquer that fear.
Mini-schools also gave me freedom to do things the way I wanted. I enjoyed the freedom.
Will you miss the mini-schools?
I will miss the mini-schools a lot. I will miss the craft works and the science experiments. We all once made muttai-biriyani in the mini-school. That was a wonderful experience. We will not have the opportunity to do things like that in a regular school.
It will be good to continue the mini-schools in some form. The mini-schools also serve children who do not go to Asha supported schools.
In Pattarai Perumbudur, there is also a TELC school which is also free. The children going there are also as poor as the government school children. They may even be poorer as the Christians in the areas tend to be Dalits who are generally poorer.
About the Students
- Cheran – 7th std. Father – Sanitation worker. Mother – works at a switch company.
- Gunapriya – 5th std. She is Cheran’s sister.
- Srinidhi – 6th std. Father – work at a pipe company. Mother – works at a switch company.
- Hansika – 7th std. Mother – housewife. Father – Works in the airport at a cargo company.
Which school did you go to / are you going to go to?
- Cheran – Studied at PUPS Pattarai Perumbudur. Joining Thiruvallur Govt high school.
- Gunapriya (Cheran’s sister) – Continuing at PUPS Pattarai Perumbudur.
- Srinidhi – Studied at PUPS Pattarai Perumbudur. Joining govt high school Pattarai Perumbudur
- Hansika – Studied at PUPS Pattarai Perumbudur. Joining DRBC higher sec school at Thiruvallur.
All the children in this school are going to government of government aided schools.
Did you have any education before the mini-school?
No there was no interaction with the schools.
What were you doing during that time?
We were playing and helping at home.
How was the mini-school?
All Children: We liked it very much. We enjoyed diff things like arts & craft, science experiments and games.
What do you feel about going back to school?
- Gunapriya and Cheran – I am very happy. I can see my friends after 2 years.
- Srinidhi and Hansika – I am afraid. I will be having a new teacher. I have never crossed the main road. I have to now travel by bus and also cross the road.