School special

Most new schools place advertisements for students in papers or pamphlets,but when Mohammed Rafiq Siddiqui,Satyanarayanan Nelly and Ganesh Bhariawala decided to start a school in 2005,they personally visited each prospective student’s house and offered them admission.

“Malwani was an area known for its notorious elements and several slum children were left uneducated for want of subsidised education. When we started our school,it was in two dilapidated rooms with 23 students and two teachers. However,rather than finesse of architecture,our aim was to provide good quality,English medium education to these children and give them the reins of their future,” said Siddiqui,the principal of the school,also known as ‘Rafiq Sir’ to his students.

Siddiqui,who himself is physically handicapped,ran a coaching class for class 10 students before he began feeling the want to do something for the kids of his area. It was then he approached his friend Nelly and roped in a former student,Bhariawala,and bought two small rooms in the Malwani slum and furnished it with desks from a scrap yard.

“From two small rooms,we obtained the requisite permission and now our school is a one-storeyed building with nine classrooms,a computer lab,a small library and a BMC ground in the back that serves as a playground,” said Siddiqui.

From 23 students,the school’s strength now stands at 650 and these include those with physical and financial handicaps. Besides the 19 teachers,the school board has seven members — including housewives and working professionals.

“When we began our survey in the slums,scouting for students,we came across families which were struggling to survive and considered education a luxury. However,we started the school with a policy that no student shall be turned away because they cannot pay. Educating them is our duty and not a business,” said Siddiqui.

The school has also displayed a notice outside,which states that education for orphans and handicapped children is free.

Nelly recalls seeing a fragile Saima,who could not even sit straight,at Sheikh’s house a few years ago. “We were initially doubtful about how Saima will study,when she is so weak. We could not afford a special school and on Rafiq Sir’s insistence,I began taking her to school. Now it has been four years and she loves going to school,” says Saima’s aunt.

The school gives these students a sense of normalcy that the outer world grudges them; Saima’s grin says it all.

The school is now functioning solely on individual donations and if you wish to assist the school in any way or sponsor a child’s education,contact: 9324334059,28833350 or visit zenith.org.in