While many government schools in the state face infrastructure challenges, Government Model High Smart School in Abohar has emerged as an example of how commitment and community support can transform public education.
The 70-year-old school, established in 1956, recently installed an elevator at a cost of approximately Rs 6.5 lakh to help students, especially those with disabilities, move easily between the ground and first floors. The funds were arranged through savings from Samagra Shiksha Scheme, contributions from local philanthropists, and support from school staff.
The school has nearly 1,300 students from pre-primary to Class 10, and serves as a centre for children with special needs. Around 50 such students are enrolled here. Although their classroom is on the ground floor, the management felt an elevator was necessary so they can access other facilities and activities in the double-storey building without difficulty.
Atma Ram Gadher, headmaster, said the elevator was installed about a month ago to make the campus more inclusive and student-friendly. “We wanted every child to feel equal and independent. Students with special needs usually sit in a common classroom, but we ensure they attend at least one period with other students in regular classrooms. The elevator also helps teachers with disabilities,” he said.
For students like Granth Singh and Randeep Singh, whose parents are daily wage workers, the elevator has brought comfort and confidence. “Since we cannot walk properly, climbing stairs used to be difficult and we often needed assistance. Now, we can move more freely inside the school,” they said.
The staff said they initially planned to construct a ramp, but it required more space, which was a challenge as the school is located in a congested area of town.
Over the years, the school has developed several facilities. It has RO water purifiers, CCTV cameras, a 15 kW generator set, an activity room, a science laboratory, swings, an open gym, smart touch panels in most classrooms, staircases fitted with granite and marble, and a separate table tennis room. Students also receive coaching in karate and basketball, in addition to yoga sessions.
English-medium education is provided from Class I onwards. The school has 42 classrooms, most of which were recently rebuilt, along with 47 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff members.
The school has also excelled in sports. One student secured second position in wrestling at All India School Games.
“Retired IAS officer Madhavi Kataria and retired judge Sanjay Sachdeva are among the school’s alumni and continue to contribute to its development,” the headmaster said, adding that some philanthropists have also agreed to donate air-conditioners for two classrooms.
Meanwhile, local resident and philanthropist Raj Kumar Lotta said, “The school’s enrolment had dropped during the Covid period, but the staff’s efforts have not only transformed the infrastructure but have also made it a true model school, capable of competing with any private school.”