Panaji: Community participation has helped the Mathagramasht Hindu Sabha in Margao to transform its Shree Damodar Higher Secondary School of Science, Comba, into a fully smart institute, with all 12 classrooms now equipped with technology-enhanced teaching facilities.The transformation was completed within three months, despite the school facing a funds crunch. Former students, parents, teachers and education officials contributed to meet the financial requirements, with the initiative also responding to the Union education ministry’s call for greater community involvement in school development.Until a month ago, the 100-year-old school was without even as much as a digital screen, which was also made available as part of the new project. The project also involved replacing the entire electrical wiring to facilitate the installation of smart classroom equipment.Deputy director of education Sindhu Prabhudesai, who was recently appointed govt’s authorised officer for the Mathagramasht Hindu Sabha schools, said the school’s financial constraints could be overcome with the right push and community support.“It was a city school with 500 students and already doing well academically. There were former students from doctors to engineers waiting to contribute; they just wanted an assurance and trust that the funds would be utilised in the right direction. So, we have taken a model of supervised ownership. Funding is never a constraint when your plan is rooted in the betterment of the school. Within three months, 12 classrooms were transformed into smart classrooms,” Prabhudesai said.She said teachers, parents, and former students readily contributed to the project. Teachers were also trained to use the new technology, with senior teachers proving as adept at using it as their younger counterparts.“For science students, the functioning of a heart, for instance, can be explained within 30 seconds through animation simulation. This will give students a boost,” she said.Prabhudesai, however, stressed that technology should complement, rather than replace conventional teaching.“This is an amazing collaboration between the community and the school. Teachers can host quizzes and tests using smart boards. It will transform how teachers teach and students learn. Smart classrooms cannot replace a good teacher, but a smart classroom in the hands of great teachers is transformational,” she said.
