Primary Khalsa Public School, Jalundhar, Part II

JALUNDHAR, PUNJAB

This is the Model Primary School that the village panchayat (local lawmakers) has started and is still trying to build. The kids are primarily in nursery to the 5th grade. For primary education, there is free education until the beginning of 6th grade at government aided public schools. However, according to the teachers, when the kids were entering junior high, they did not know basics in language, math, science so the model school was established. The village is struggling to make ends meet, there is a lack of books, writing utensils, paper, supplies, proper lighting, and classroom space.

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.

Successful Delhi School: Mira Model School

As part of our plan to visit varous types of schools in India, we decided to tour Mira Model School, which caters to middle to upper-class families. It provided a great contrast to most of the schools we had visited. It is located in Delhi and founded by US-based entrepreneur Dolly Oberoi and her family. The school offers a wide range of courses, including a top-notch technology focus. Dolly, who lives and works in the greater Washington D.C. area with her husband is the founder of C2 Technologies, a company focusing on technology and improvement of human performance.

Pictured below, here she is at a women's leadership conference in DC where I met her and learned about Mira Model School in Delhi. So I decided to take our India team to tour and observe.
Here is a web link to her company: https://www.c2ti.com

Her family still resides in Delhi and has successfully established the school. They are currently working on developing a dental school. The Oberoi family and the teachers at the school are eager to keep up with technological advances and the expertise of top-rated Western schools. With the resources available to them, I have no doubt they will continue to thrive.

Although the school does not have urgent needs at the moment, future collaborations with the teachers are possible. While completing my MA in Education, I completed a project on distance learning that the teachers wanted to learn more about.


Kids with their hard hats on ready to do some rock climbing!

With Mrs. Oberoi (in the middle), a student is congratulated for climbing to the top.

Kids at play here on a bright, sunny day in Delhi.
Angela, our team member, taking a stab at the wall! Angela had a very calm disposition, but always tried everything. Her fearless attitude won much respect!


Mr. Oberoi, his assistant and Rebecca talking about the successes of their school. The dentist and his assistant show us the dental care clinic for the students.
Examining the differences and similarities between schools across various economic strata in India gave me a nuanced understanding of the complex issues dealing with caste and socioeconomic status.