Full, well almost full, Strength Minischool at Semmedu in Girija Teacher’s House
21 November 2021 Weatherwise, November 2921 has been a terrible month in Tamilnadu. Not only coastal areas but also some interior areas like Tiruvannamalai 160 Kms south west of Chennai also were lashed by heavy rains. Under the aegis of Asha Chennai minischools also functioned in this district in many places during Covid enforced shut down. . I chose Girija of Semmedu who managed a minischool to interview. She had run single handedly a minischool in her village which was near the main road from Thiruvannamalai going to Gingee famous for its fort and legendary 18th century King Raja Desingu. .I began by asking her how it all began when schools were closed indefinitely because of the pandemic.
R.Sundaram : Hello Girija! Welcome.Congratulations. I believe you ran a minischool successfully in a rural place like Semmedu. I would like to hear from you all about it.
Girija : Yes Sir.! Actually I started my minischool only on 20 August 2020 much later than in many other places where teachers of Asha Chennai ran minischools. My husband is a pharmacist and as a family we were quite aware of the risks involved when coronavirus was spreading. .As days went by children started gathering and playing in courtyards and verandahs. That is when I thought I could get them together to do some form of regular studies.It was also fun having children instead of spending time watching TV
R.Sundaram : But how did the parents of children react to the starting of your minischool? Did they send them for the purpose of parking them in a safe place or want them to study too?
Girija : Of course initially we had only 3 students to start with. I started in the garden in the back of my house. Later I shifted to the verandah in the front of my house. Slowly the number rose to 17 and we had a peak strength of 30 . This fluctuation in attendance is because parents when they go out to other places for family functions or some such things they take their children too along with them.. Most of the parents were construction workers.
R.Sundaram : Prior to attending your minischool which school were they going to?
Girija : There is a government primary and upper primary school here in Semmedu. Most of the children who came to my school used to attend the government school here. 2 of them from English medium private schools and the rest 28 from Tamil medium. In fact over time a Government teacher from that school used to drop in our school, talk to me and to the students, take interest in their studies and give tips and guide me in planning activities and lessons..Actually our school has more students belonging to class IV and above. They were familiar with this regular visitor.
R.Sundaram : How did you plan your curriculum? How did you find the students in general?
Girija: I used to insist on daily reading in English , reading anything, even newspapers and the development of good handwriting. .I used to give them worksheets for Maths. .I used to devote a lot of time to students to practice storytelling. They seemed interested in studies and some of them were remarkable. If you permit me I would like to highlight some of them. For instance, this girl E Hemalatha bowled me over when she narrated in English the story of the Crow wanting to change its colour which ended in disaster. I myself heard the story for the first time during Asha Chennai English Training by Shyamala madam in June 2020. Then there were these two pupils, S Kishore of Class VI and N Lacanya in Class IV who impressed Rajaram Sir greatly during his visit with their skills in Maths. N Jayashree of Class VIII and R.Abhinesh Raja in Class VI were extraordinarily skilful in craft work.
R.Sundaram : Did you not have a troublesome boy at all in your class?
Girija : Yes I had a boy by name Manivannan who would not open his mouth at all and speak any time whether I pleaded or shouted at him. Over time by my persistent efforts I could make him speak to others and also answer questions in the class.
R.Sundaram : Were there any interruptions in running the schools. Like family problems and such?
Girija : There was absolutely no problem from my family. In fact my parents in law also stay with me. However in February this year during the beginning of the second wave some of us in my house tested positive for Covid. We self quarantined and shut down the minischool immediately and opened it only after the mandatory quarantine period. .
R.Sundaram : What is your take away from your experience of running the minischools in Semmedu?
Girija : I am immensely satisfied that I could do my bit to help these young kids who were studying in a good government school already so as not to lose their interest in studies. I am sure when they go back to regular school most of them may not feel that the government or covid enforced gap had any impact on their level.
R.Sundaram : Thank you Girija. I could not see you in this Google Meet though I heard you very clearly.. I think video in your laptop isn’t working properly.
Girija : No problem Sir. I can see you clearly. Anyway, I will come on the WhatsApp video chat so that you can see me.
R.Sundaram : Thank you Girija It has been a pleasure talking to you.
Rajaram sir explaining concept of measurement, absolute and comparative