BOLENG, Oct 29: The Upper Primary School, Rebing located in Kebang circle of Siang district once wore the look of a run-down neglected school with dingy classrooms, broken boundary wall and minimal enrolments. Come the monsoon season and rainwater would rush into the classrooms, forcing the teachers to end classes prematurely. The nearby Anganwadi located in the same compound suffered the same fate with unsafe cracks and holes in the floor. Today, the same school and anganwadi has metamorphosed and is unrecognisable. 
In an exemplary display of collaboration of efforts to enable the metamorphosis, teachers and SMC members along with AAPSU Education Secretary and Circle Officer, Pangin have refurbished and renovated the once dilapidated school solely through voluntary donations, social service and community participation. 
The renovation was kick-started by Ms. Niyang Pertin, Circle Officer, Pangin who has since also adopted the school. Pertin stated, “While students in private schools avail the best facilities and study in conducive, child-friendly environments, why must such learning opportunities be denied to students of government schools?” Acknowledging and taking forward the concept of ‘Building as Learning Aid’ (BaLA), the classrooms have been painted with interactive and attractive murals. “Our sole aim was to stimulate the students and inculcate an excitement to learn, which we hope will check drop-out rates as well as increase enrolment in the school.” she added. The mission was further given a much needed impetus by Mr. Lobsang Tsering, Education Secretary, AAPSU, who generously donated cement bags, white wash, sintex, fans, AC Board etc for the renovation. Tsering said, “While AAPSU has been highlighting chronic issues prevailing in the education sector of Arunachal Pradesh such as the dilapidated conditions of government schools, teacher absenteeism, irregular teacher-students ratio, I wanted to positively contribute by helping to renovate such schools. This is only the first amongst many schools we hope to renovate.”

With voluntary donations from all the stakeholders, during the weekends social service was conducted by the teachers, SMC members and Circle Officer who all laboured for weeks in the process of renovation. The weakened beams were replaced; a half-wall along the school passage was constructed to prevent rainwater from gushing into the classrooms; classroom walls were painted with attractive murals to enable participative learning and a holistic learning environment as well as minor cement work in the Anganwadi centre to prevent seepage of water and repair the cracks in the floor.
The initiative has not only brought about infrastructural improvement, community ownership of the school but also generated interest among the young students who are now eager to attend classes. “My child is now genuinely excited to go to school and they wish ‘good morning’ to the animals painted on the walls as well”, said a parent. 
The mission to renovate schools through voluntary donations within Pangin and Kebang circles continues with the administrative officer hoping to bring about a stakeholder mentality towards schools amongst the villagers. Dipro

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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