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| Sal Sabeel Central School, Mayilankulam, Mundoor, Thrissur |
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The appearance of uniformed students sitting under the mango tree with the teacher wearing a doctor-like white overcoat may suggest that they are at some exotic picnic spot. But no, these students of Sal Sabeel Central School, Mayilankulam, Mundoor, Thrissur are attending class in their 14-acre school compound.
No wonder the school has won the Haritha Bandu prize for the best environmental practice instituted by the School of Moral Education, Kottayam. They did it beating the major schools in the State.
Sal Sabeel means the Spring of Paradise in Arabic. True to that concept the school sports an idyllic environment for the students to blossom in life. The school is the concept of the Trust that wanted to provide joy in learning. The school started 8 years ago with 70 students. Without cutting even a single branch, the classrooms were built. The walls were only as tall as parapets and the roof was thatched. But if the students feel that even this classroom is not airy enough, the classes are often shifted to the shade of the mango tree, or the lawn nearby. It is another matter that the Trust was later forced to construct concrete building to meet CBSE norms.
The students have a programme, ‘Jalakam’ where they interact with important persons in society. One day every month, the students of one House run the activities of the school except office. Students themselves purchase, cook and serve food for themselves. And they maintain the vegetable garden too.
In the arts competitions at school, all the students are participants. Reading newspapers and analyzing news is an everyday activity here. And it is not alien to the culture of the school for the students and teachers to seek the professional help of psychologists.
The classroom outdoors
Courtesy: K.K.Shameer (text), Vibi Job (photo), Malayala Manorama, January 24, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
