Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School – Chennai-90

Proposal for continued support for the school

From Asha St. Louis

May 2014

Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School (OMHSS)

• Established 1894• Location: Theosophical

Society Campus, Besant Nagar, Chennai

• Free school for socially and economically less privileged children

• School seeks to remedy built-in disabilities of environment and nutrition

• Co-education• Classes I through XII• Tamil medium• Boys:Girls = 267:192• Student strength = 459

OMHS Context

• Children from nearby slums: fisherfolk, coolies, housemaids etc

• Homes of children• Below poverty line• Rampant domestic

violence, alcoholism, women & child abuse OMHS seeks to provide a

vibrant, happy environment for holistic learning, fun and games

Curriculum• Affiliated to the Tamil Nadu State Board

– Tamil - first language– English -second language– Maths, Science, Social Sciences subjects

• Students appear for SSLC (Class X) certificate examinations after 10 years of schooling and will appear for HSC (Class XII) certificate in March 2015

• Students of Class VIII – XII learn vocational skills– Tailoring, Embroidery, Drawing and painting, Food

preservation and baking, Book binding, Screen Printing, Fabric design, Jewellery making

Initiatives

• Nutrition program– Mid-day meal enriched

with sambhar, rice, vegetables & banana

– Breakfast at 9:30 am of Kanji (ragi, cereals, pulses)

• Classroom provisions– All students provided with good quality notebooks– TN Govt covers 100% of textbook needs

• Uniforms: 2 good quality uniforms/year/student

Initiatives• Technology Aided Learning (TAL)

– Projection equipment and digital lessons to enrich learning of maths, science, social studies

• Special Program for English and Language Learning (SPELL)– To help students with comprehension, oral and written expression in

English

• Primary Resource Centre– To improve social and thinking skills through educational games and

associated activities

Initiatives- Contd

• Library – Collection of over 5000 books

• Science lab- Refurbished recently

• Games and Sports – Large playground

Teachers: The School’s Lifeline

Committed teachers are responsible for the unique set of initiatives in the school like IAYP adventure trips exposure

School Std 10 – SSLC Results

SSLC March 2014 Results expected on 23 May 2014

From 54% passes in March 2004 to 98 in March 2013

– 51/52 students passed in the March 2013 SSLC

Board Exams. Just one child could not clear Soc

Studies even though his average in the other subjects

was 45%

Funding Requested 2014-2015 For the following…

Educational support Expenses Amountsin INR

Classroom Expenses 50,000

Computer Room/ Maintenance 60,000

Craft section 50,000

Exams and tests ( stationery material) 95,000

Medical health 50,000

Educational trips 50,000

General Resource Room, Counseling & Sp Ed. 25,000

Printing & stationery 20,000

Notebooks & Texts 150,000

Sports day Prizes, Academic prizes 25,000

Festivals and celebrations 25,000

Total 1 600,000

Funding Requested 2014-2015 and For the following:

Other Allied Support Amountsin INR

Maintenance & upkeep of general facilities 50,000

Recurring expenses on electricity & water 50,000

Additional nutrition and food expenses with increased secondary strength 150,000

Total 2 250,000

Grand Total - 6 lakhs+ 2.5 lakhs = 8.5lakhs

Proposal Summary

Asha St. Louis support

• 2012-2013 INR 333,290

• 2013-2014 (525,000+ 320,000)= INR 845,000

Requesting support for educational support expenses, repairs & maintenance & additional nutritional expenses

• 2014-15 INR850,000

Year 2013-2014 Highlights

• Educational authorities approval granted for plus 2 classes in school. School upgraded to Higher Secondary status

• Improved participation in science fairs and projects- recognition to students and staff at state level

• Improved focus on sports & co- curricular activities- winning laurels at zonal and national levels

• Second computer facility room set up for HSC classes and vocational training

School Plan for later years• Intensified focus on exposure to computers,

internet, email & improvement of English language.

• Improve employability at 18 years of age through vocational training during & after Plus 2. Setting up a collaborative unit with guaranteed job placements with a successful NGO being explored.

• Plan to start the above mentioned training by July 2014

• Plan to focus on starting bilingual approach in primary for building basic language skills