An evening school that provides primary education to underprivileged children will now help them complete Class X.
The children, who come from marginalised families, will get an opportunity to complete their English-medium education at St Xavier’s Collegiate (Evening) School.
Most of the children are first-generation schoolgoers who live in places like Park Circus, Mullick Bazar and Topsia. Their parents work as daily wage earners, drivers, mechanics or in small shops. They had a hard time getting their children admitted to a school.
The evening school, from 2.30pm to 7pm, so far provided education only up to Class VI.
“In the past, the school provided primary education but now the idea is to complete their education. We have started with Class X affiliation and soon will get Class XII affiliation as well. This will help students continue further studies as well,” said Father M. Thamacin Arulappan, principal, St Xavier’s Collegiate School.
The school is affiliated to the West Bengal Council of Rabindra Open Schooling.
About 56 students who were in Class VI this year had refused to leave the campus. They insisted on being allowed to repeat the class so they could continue school, said a teacher.
“My son is in Class V. In a meeting that we attended, the school told us that we won’t have to take him elsewhere. He can complete Class X in the same school,” said a mother.
Another mother said that this would ensure that her son came out of school with “a qualification”. “Father has thought about the future of our children. I was worried as to where I would take my son after Class VI,” she said.
The boys “value the education that they receive and the infrastructure that they get access to,” said Arindam Ghosh, a former student of the school.
The evening school has around 500 students and the boys share the same infrastructure with the regular students of the school.
Last week, St Xavier’s Collegiate School in collaboration with Alumnorum Societas (Alsoc) held a programme announcing the affiliation and formal inauguration of the school.
Among others who attended the programme were Father Jeyaraj Veluswamy, rector of St Xavier’s College; and Father Dominic Savio, principal of St Xavier’s College; Jeffrey Menezes, coordinator of the evening school; and Father Arulappan, principal of the school.
Many parents attended the programme and some of them requested the authorities for a spoken English course for them.
“Having seen their children get English-medium education, the parents have also expressed their desire to learn the language,” said Ghosh, who is also a member of the Alsoc.