Headmaster spends Rs 4,000 per month on education tools at Corpn school

Talking to DT Next, Ahamed, who was a student in this school from Class 1 to 5 in 1977, said, “I owe my existence to the school and hence I felt that I should do my bit to help the poor students get a taste of what private schools offer their wards.” 

The compound at the foot of the Sathuvachary hills actually consists of two elementary schools in the same campus; but the similarity ends there. The Refaul school was the original occupant, while another Corporation Elementary School nearby was shifted to this location, as they were forced to vacate the private building, as the local body repeatedly failed to pay the rent.

When Ahamed joined the school as headmaster in 2012, it had only three students, but today, it boasts of 22. Unlike then, the Refaul School has a colourful office, filled with interesting items. Khalim has a collection of coins and stamps to interest students in these hobbies, in addition to wax models of fruits and vegetables to help students understand their English names. Also on display are a century-old tiffin carrier, a model of a phonograph and old measures (padi). 

There is also a model ‘potty’ to help the three mentally challenged students understand how to use a toilet. The school has a CCTV to keep track of the children who wander into the streets often. An air cooler has been provided to help during summer, while the kids are taught rhymes and English words through a mini smart board, as is done in many private shcools. The entrance is guarded by a thick plastic curtain. 

A highlight of the school is that the students attend classes seated under mosquito nets provided by the government, as protection against dengue. Ahamed is helped by two teachers. Officials including collector SA Raman and DRO T Sengottayan were taken aback when they visited the institution recently and repeatedly asked Khaleem if it was really a Corporation institution.