Mangaluru: Ten children in seven classes!! This is a picture of Government Senior Primary School at Phandije in Nittade Village of Belthangady Taluk in the District.
There is furniture for the classrooms, there is a well-organised library, there is quite a large building with rooms, there is a mid-day meal system, there are talented teachers, there are enough learning tools for children, and there is a spacious playground. The school has a solid campus. Despite all this, the children are only a handful.
One child in first standard, in second standard there are no students, two children in the third standard, two in the fourth standard, one student in the fifth standard, two in the sixth standard and two in the seventh standard. Thus, Phandije School has 7 boys and 3 girls.
This school, which was known as the best school as there was no another school in the distance. However, today the number of children in the school has been decreasing. Although the number of children is less, they have the necessity to do all the lessons. Thus, due to lack of teachers, there is a situation where one has to teach 20 subjects. At least three posts should be filled here.
Flavia D’Souza, the teacher here, is known as the best teacher. She is taking care of ten children as her children. She teaches English language really well. She has the skills to make a child who joins first standard speak English fluently by the time they come out of seventh standard. Four years ago Flavia was selected as a Government teacher for Phandije School.
Earlier she was a teacher in a private school in Madanthyar. After coming to the Government school here, she has used all her talent to the children and has become the best teacher.
Recently Pratibha Karanji competition was held here. The children here won prizes in 6 out of 8 competitions. Four children will compete at the Taluk level. Even though we have hundreds of children, the neighbouring schools wonder how they could do it when they did not get a single prize.
About 214 videos have been uploaded to YouTube. Noticing Flavia’s devotion to duty, a parent admitted their child here last time. The child has done the schooling for two years, yet could not read letters. But here the way she corrects a student is exemplary. There are thousands of valuable books in the library.
D’Souza has developed the habit in children of reading English and Kannada books day after day.
Phandije School SDMC President Swati said, “There is a good teacher in the school. But there are not many children in school. If people observe Flavia’s duty, and thereby nearby villagers send their children to Phandije School, they can get good education and the school too can be saved”.
