Thirteen private schools of Chandigarh have adopted government schools under the school adoption scheme initiated by the Education department. The initiative seeks to help the marginalised students by providing an exposure to a different and enhanced academic experience. A voluntary exercise, the programme began six months ago when private schools were invited to contribute to their government counterparts.

Institutions including Sacred Heart, Carmel Convent, St Kabir, St Stephen’s, SD Public School have chipped in and their students are reaching out to help the students of government schools.

Theatre, teachers’ exchange, sports events are some of the activities the private schools are undertaking to benefit the government schools’ students.

D S Bedi, director of Shivalik Public School, which has adopted Government High School, Sector 41, said: “We want these children to be at par with students of private schools. Visits to their school will increase the confidence level of these students and also give them exposure. It is a two-way learning process where our students will also learn to acknowledge the privileges they have compared to poor students.”

Students of adopted schools are making regular trips to their host schools to experience the academic atmosphere.

Private schools are also conducting events like science quiz and debates for the ‘guest’ students.

“The idea is to break the reservations that students from both the quarters may have. It is a gesture to make these students feel cared for. Their financial status should not come in the way of acquiring knowledge,” said the spokesperson of St Kabir School that has adopted Government High School, Mauli Jagran.

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