Rural Senior Secondary School, Jalundhar, Part I

KHALSA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, JALUNDHAR

One of our most moving experiences took place at Khalsa Public School, where the innocence of the children, the candidness of the mostly female teachers, and the genuine concern of the village panchayat (local village government) for the welfare of their children deeply touched us. They welcomed us with open arms and genuine excitement upon our arrival. This village is the ancestral home of some of my relatives, and since it was my first visit, the experience felt all the more special.

Here is the school committee greeting us on our arrival. "Welcome" inscribed and a flower drawn in chalk.

School Comittee members, teachers, students, and our group on our arrival.

During our visit to the school, we interviewed 3 teachers who taught Punjabi language, Arts & Crafts, and Mathematics.
They were very candid about the conditions of the schools, highlighting the lack of educational resources and the absence of technology for the students. We also inquired about serious issues such as infanticide, domestic violence, and caste discrimination. The responses we received were incredibly informative and insightful, shedding light on the challenges faced by the community. I plan to discuss these topics in more detail in a future post.

Their charisma was contagious, and it was unfortunate that there is a lack of public resources for these women to expand their horizons. They need access to technology to enhance their teaching and to educate other women, thereby improving their status. We decided to offer future support that could potentially be sustainable for these women and children. The school committee, while generous, open-minded and dedicated to improvement, would greatly benefit from additional educational support, as many members lack formal education which makes it challenging to provide the children with the resources they need. Outside resources, international involvement, philanthropic interest, and dedicated individuals with educational backgrounds could help transform this village.

Rebecca got the children excited about her iPod, which most of them had either never heard of or seen in person. We conducted a poll, asking over 100 students if they had ever used a computer; surprisingly, only one boy said he had used one just once. With over 700 students in total, the school lacks a single computer.

Lisa taking part in class! These students who were so eager to learn. The students were beautifully diverse coming from various Punjabi backgrounds and representing Sikh, Hindu, and Christian faiths.