Providing the best of education to produce good, confident human beings is the mantra of Pragjyotish English Medium High School.

History

The school, established by the M.S. Social and Education Society of India on November 7, 1988, had a humble beginning, operating from a rented house at Boripara in Maligaon with only six students.

The school was shifted to its permanent campus in West Boragaon on National Highway 37 on January 1, 1998.

Mritunjay Shukla, founder of the society and the present principal, built the school with the vision of spreading the light of education among as many children as possible. He also wanted to ensure that quality education did not become the preserve of the wealthy.

The school follows the syllabus of the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) and prepares the students for the HSLC examination conducted by the board.

School timing

From 9 am to 2.30 pm.

Strengths

The school is situated on the outskirts of Guwahati, away from the pollution and the dirt of the city.

It has a sprawling campus, spread across 10 bighas, with playgrounds, auditoriums, libraries, laboratories and a music centre.

The school has a well-equipped computer laboratory with 18 computers.

It has a first-aid room and separate sick rooms for boys and girls.

The teachers take personal interest in every student and try to bring out the best in them.

Meritorious students from economically backward classes are provided free books. The school also waives the fees of students who secure first position in Classes VII, VIII and IX.

At present, the teacher-student ratio is 1:27.

The morning assembly — a time when the entire school gathers for prayers — acts as an effective means of bonding between teachers and students.

All the students are divided into four houses — red, blue, green and yellow — and each house ensures all-round development of the students.

The method of instruction is an effective mix of teachers’ instructions, group activities and field trips and aims at developing the analytical skills of the students.

The school organises educational tours at regular intervals.

A variety of extra-curricular activities like painting, performing arts (vocal, instrumental), debate, quiz, dance and craft ensure that all work and no play does not make the children dull.

The school organises parent-teacher meetings four times a year.

The school has transportation facility of its own.

Areas to improve

Incomplete infrastructure.

Indoor stadium is under construction.

Higher secondary classes are not yet to be introduced.

Teacher-student ratio needs to be narrowed.

Achievements

The school tasted exceptional success in its very first year. Though the institution was established in 1989, the first HSLC batch passed out in 1990. In that very first batch, a student of the school, Mahesh Ladha, secured the highest marks in social studies. And the success story only got better.

The pass percentage in matric was 100 per cent this year. Four students, Niharika Thakuria, Meghna Ganguly, Prasoon Kumar Jain and Jyoti Prakash Deka secured the 9th, 12th, 13th and 19th ranks in the HSLC examination.

Debate, recitation and quiz competitions have been organised regularly by the school.

NASA adjudged a former student, Arko Pravo Dhar, as a child scientist.

The school bagged the best school award in the swimming competition at a summer camp organised at the B.P. Chaliha Swimming pool at the Nehru stadium.

The school team won the Pandu Maligaon inter-school cricket tournament last year.

The school organises various programmes, including annual sports day, Parents’ Day, Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day and inter-school competitions.

Parents’ view

Mina Deka, housewife: I had admitted my son Jyoti Prasad Deka in Class III. This year he passed HSLC with excellent results, securing 19th position in the state. I am very satisfied with his performance both in studies and extra-curricular activities. The school is equipped with all necessary facilities that are necessary for a student’s all-round development. Besides, the fee structure is very reasonable compared to other schools.

Students’ view

Dimpy Baishya, ex-student: I studied in this school from Class II. My school is a temple of learning. The teachers are dedicated and are guided by an experienced principal. However, as a former student I would like to suggest that the school needs more science laboratories and the library should be upgraded. My school is an ideal institution and feel proud that I was a part of it.

Management’s view

Mritunjay Shukla, principal: A person should learn to govern his mind and then he can govern the whole world. Pragjyotish English Medium High School is dedicated to provide education to mould children into good human beings. The problem of English medium teaching in this part of the country has not been so much the inadequacy in the number of such schools, but more so the inequitable distribution of these so that the benefits of this tested medium of instruction could not percolate down to children of an average household. English medium teaching has, by far, been the exclusive privilege of a particular section of society. Our school has been established to bridge this gap and cater to the aspirations of average parents who want the best of the education for their children. Pragjyotish School is a place where a child learns the values of life. In this institution, we play the role of senior friends and councillors of the children.

Fee

Rs 300 per month (excluding transport)

Pranab Kumar Nath