DHRHSS KANDANAKAM DOCUMENT

Darul Hidaya @ Kandanakam

Darul Hidaya Residential Higher Secondary School for Women, Kandanakam is one of the eminent educational institutions in Kaladi Grama Panchayath. It is a Recognized Aided Higher Secondary School under the HSE Section, DGE  Kerala in Edappal Sub District. It has fruitfully accomplished a quarter of a century and enduring its ceaseless expedition to date and up to date. Formerly it was funded by the Central Government for the foundation and infrastructure development, proposed by the Area Intensive Programme.

The Background:

In pursuance with the National Policy on Education, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Govt of India set up a group in 1990 under the Chairmanship of Dr Gopal Singh to look into the educational status of the disadvantaged groups, the backward classes and the minorities in the country. They have identified Muslims and Neo-Buddhists as educationally backward minority groups at the national level. Neo-Buddhists were given all the benefits which are available to the Scheduled Casts and therefore, the Muslims are recognized as educationally backward minority group at the national level. The Committee has suggested an Area Approach in school education to promote education of the educationally backward groups. This has been recommended by the Empowered Committee of Education and endorsed by the Central Advisory Board of Education in May 1992. To this end, the Dept of Education under the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, the Government of India has been operating a national scheme of financial assistance, namely the Area Intensive Programme (AIP) with a view to promote education of children belonging to educationally backward minorities. A Grants–in–Aid Committee (GIAC) under the chairmanship of the Union Education Secretary would be constituted for the purpose. The Programme was launched in 1993 and the grant is given as 100% basis to the States and the Union Territories for the establishment and strengthening of educational infrastructure in Lower Primary and Upper Primary Schools and also for opening of multi- stream Residential Higher Secondary Schools for the girls to promote their participation in science, commerce, humanities and vocational courses. The AIP Scheme has been implemented in four districts of Assam and 325 blocks spread over 13 States and three UTs.

During 1994-95 Academic Year, the Govt of India approved the proposals for starting 42 schools run by the Non Governmental and Voluntary Organisations under the Scheme of AIP in six districts of Kerala, namely Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod. The Ponnani Taluk Muslim Orphanage Committee (PTMOA) also has been sanctioned to start up a Residential Higher Secondary School for Girls at Kandanakam, in Tavanur Panchayath. (Now the Panchayath is bifurcated and formed a new one called Kaladi Grama Panchayath, so the School is at the latter now.) The Association was provided with one time grant of 15 lakhs in two installments for the establishment of Residential Higher Secondary School with infrastructure facilities.

The AIP School Managements in Kerala strived a lot to set in motion of these types of schools due to the shortfall of fund, especially the salary of the staff. The one time grant for construction work only doesn’t help the institution to bestow quality education. Their incessant entreaty triumphed in at last and the State Government sanctioned to allocate salary to the staff of these schools in 2003. Now, the schools have come into full aided status and the Government of Kerala has approved the appointments of the staff as per the rules mentioned in the KER and the KSR.

DHRHSS @ Silver Jubilee Year

DHRHSS for Women Kandanakam (School Code: 11075 under the DHSE, Govt of Kerala) set out its scholastic safari in the academic year 1994-95. The School is situated in a sylvan, serene and alluring hillock area at Kandanakam. It is located nearby the Thrissur- Kuttippuram State Highway (SH 69), the KSRTC Bus Station and the Institute of Driver Training and Research (IDTR) in the vicinity and also 6 KMs away from Kuttippuram Railway Station. It has a colossal campus locale with 10 acres of land and a large recreation ground. At first, the School was launched at Hidayath Nagar, Edappal in 1994 and in the following year it was shifted to the new two storey building at Kandanakam. In 2007, the building was elevated to three storey with all the facilities including an Auditorium.

Curriculum and Admission:

The School follows the curriculum of SCERT Kerala. As it is a Girls Higher Secondary School, the girls get enrolled for two years, namely Plus One and Plus Two. The admission process adheres as per the norms mentioned in the HSE Section, under the Directorate of General Education. It follows the Single Window Admission System in the HSCAP for the selection and admission in Plus One Classes. The Kerala Government introduced the SWA System since 2008. There are 20% seats reserved for the SC/ST, 20% for the Muslim Community, 20% for the Management and the remaining 40% in General Category. The School timing is from 9am to 4.45pm as per the directions from the HSE. The students come from far off places, commuting several KMs to turn up school. The feeding area of the school is spread over three districts, comprised of five Assembly Constituencies, namely Thrithala, Tavanur, Ponnani, Kottakkal and Kunnamkulam.

Faculty and Facilities of Infrastructure:

Mr N Abdul Kayoom is the Principal of DHRHSS. He took charge in 2005. Twelve teachers and four lab assistants are working here. English, Arabic, Hindi, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Zoology and Botany faculties are functioning with full fledge. They use ICT assisted equipments and study materials for their interaction with the students. The teachers are Government approved and highly qualified and to get through the ages to tackle with the new generation. The School provides Wi-Fi connectivity to all classes to cop up with the current age.

There are two science batches in vogue with the subject code 01 (English, Hindi/ Arabic, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology). The School has a three storey building with all the requirements for running a well established higher secondary school. All class rooms are well furnished smart rooms with LCD projector and white boards. The Principal's Chamber, the School Office, the Teachers’ Staff Room, well arranged conference hall, four well equipped Laboratories (Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology), the Library & Reading Room, the Prayer Hall, the NSS Office, the Store Room, eleven clean and girls’ friendly toilets with incinerator and napkin vending machine and an Auditorium are working in this three storey building. The School has bus facilities to and fro between Kandanakam and Edappal. The pupils from far off places can easily turn up at school premises with free of cost.

The Scholars and the Scholastic Area:

There are almost 240 students studying in four classes, namely S1A, S1B, S2A and S2B here. The School has only Higher Secondary Section. The students get stimulation and support from the teachers to score more in the examinations by various activities such as the tutorial system, motivation classes, special coaching, night class, monthly unit evaluation and individual care. The School secured the Academic Excellence Award viz. C Hamza Sahib Memorial Rolling Trophy sponsored by MES in Ponnani Taluk in 2009. Most of the girls are hailing from the educationally backward background and they need more assistance and observation. All the class rooms have internet connectivity and the pupils use internet to google facts and info. The secure, serene and caring campus surroundings lure girls and their parents to the School.

The Parents, Teachers, Students and Management:

There is a friendly and favorable affinity among the parents, the teachers, students and the Management which are the four pillars of school system. The School encourages active parents’ participation in all the school programmes. There is strong and powerful PTA that coordinates all the activities in the School. The PTA Executive Committee meetings conduct every month and on special occasions. A section wise parent meeting convenes after terminal examinations. Regular Parent-Teacher Interaction is inevitable to bring the desired development in students. Most of the parents are regularly attending the open houses conducted after each terminal evaluation. The PTA supports the teachers and the students in curricular and non-curricular activities. The Management is also very alert in arranging infrastructure facilities.

Co-curricular Activities:

The National Service Scheme:

The School has been santioned a Self Financing National Service Scheme- NSS Unit. The personality development of students through community service is the aim of NSS. It was formally inaugurated by Mrs. Suhra Mampad, the President of the Malappuram District Panchayath in this Academic Year (2015-16). There is only one Unit, which consists of 50 students studying in Plus One Classes. Mrs. Jisha Jose, HSST in Chemistry is the Programme Officer now. The students of NSS do various activities for the betterment of their personality and the development of the society.

The Souhrida Club:

The Souhrida Club commenced in 2012. The aim of the Club is to improve the physical, academic, social and interpersonal skills of adolescents and lead them towards a successful adulthood. Souhrida Club assures a platform for the students to express their problems frankly. Mrs. Shemeena C M, HSST in Hindi is the Co-ordinator of Souhrida Club. The Souhrida Vedi under the Chairmanship of the Principal works as the Executive Committee of the Club. They conduct health related classes on several topics such as Know Thyself, Reproductive Health, Mental Health and Makkale Ariyan. A Drop Box is arranged at School for the students to drop their grievances/ problems in their home, class or any other area. The Executive Committee evaluates the programmes and the problems of the pupils every week. The International Children’s Day (November 20) is celebrated as the Souhrida Day.

The Career Guidance and Adolescent Counseling Cell:

The Career Guidance and Adolescent Counseling Cell conduct various activities in the School. It also started in 2012. It organizes motivation classes, career guidance classes for the students. Mr. Noufal A Khader is the Co-ordinator of the Cell. The cell gives guidance for the students for their higher studies. The individual counseling also should be arranged for the girl students.

The Arts, Sports and Extra Curricular Activities:

The School encourages the extra-curricular activities of the students to flourish their flavor and also their innate abilities and skills. The students partake in the Arts and Sports very lively and actively. They are selected to take part in Sub District and District School Festivals each year. The students get qualified to participate in various activities in Sub- Districts and District Levels. They also vigorously perform in General Quiz Programmes and other intellectual activities.  The School celebrates all the festivals and festivities with its full feast. The students are also glad to participate in annual tour programmes.

The School @ a Glance:

1994:  Launched @ Hidayath Nagar
1995:  Shifted to Kandanakam
2002:  Sanctioned Aided Status to School
2003:  Approved Teachers' & Non Teachers Appointment
2005:  Appointed New Four Teachers
2005:  Appointed N Abdul Kayoom as Principal
2007:  Elevated the Building to Three Storey

2008:  Introduced Single Window Admission System
2009:  Bestowed C Hamza Sahib Memorial Award for Academic Excellence.
2011:  Sanctioned an Additional Science Batch
2012:  Commenced the Souhrida Club
2012:  Sanctioned Career Guidance & Counseling Cell
2013:  Approved the Appointment of New Three Teachers
2015:  Sanctioned Self Financing NSS Unit
2015:  Sanctioned a New Teacher Post in English

2015:  School celebrated 20^th Annual

2017:  School Introduced Academic Master Plan with a title, ‘VISION 2020, MISSION 120’

2018:  All class rooms became smart with LCD projector

2020:  Inaugurated one year long Silver Jubilee Celebrations

The Conclusion:

The objective of the School is to promote education of girls belonging to socially and educationally backward minorities and to promote participation of girls in science and technology courses. By the AIP Scheme, the parents send their children to school regularly and the retention rate has improved. The girls are very contented and confident and are feeling secure in this Institution. As it is for the girls only, the parents have faith in this Institution and so they do not hesitate to send their ward.  In short, the DHR is like a beacon which beams gleams of light in the form of girls, hues around the society.