Parishke Munche Habba? (Festival Before Exam) Rural Govt High School in Montepadavu in Bantwal taluk marks 1st Day of SSLC Exam with Fest
Mangaluru: It was something unique that has never been seen before, and for the FIRST time, the Headmaster and management of Government High School at Montepadavu in Bantwal taluk had come up with a novel idea to help students facing SSLC examinations get rid of the examination phobia. As many as 300 plus students from five schools in the Bantwal vicinity appeared for the examination at this school, which is one among the 95 centres across the district. Students who came from other schools to appear for their exam at Montepadavu School, were also joined by 78 students of the school itself writing the examination at the centre.
Prior to the First day of the SSLC examination, in order to observe examinations as a festival, and to create a conducive atmosphere for children, the Headmaster of the School-Santhosh Kumar had sent a formal invitation to the heads and teachers of five schools in and around Montepadavu, to accompany their students to the examination centre. And his initiative was a sheer success, which brought miles of smiles on the happy faces of the students right before they entered the exam halls. This SSLC exam fest witnessed “Chende”/musical Band performing, music, prayers from priests of three religions, flowers, and much more, which led to fun and happy smiling faces. This School was one among a few schools in DK, which got into the festive mood in order to relive the stress of the students appearing for their exams. And the initiative did work wonders!
Boards and banners had been mounted to welcome the students appearing for the SSLC examination on Thursday. A shamiyana had been erected for the special occasion, and all the students and the accompanying teachers were welcomed with a rose. Around 15 girl students of the Montepadavu school will guided the SSLC students in locating their classrooms to write the examination. All these activities was conducted between 8.30 am and 9 am, and by 9.15 all students were inside the classrooms to answer the language subject paper at 9.30 am.
On 21 March 2019, being the first day of SSLC exams, as the students entered Montepadavu High School which had been decorated with flowers, balloons and buntings just like an wedding place, they were welcomed with Chende/musical band. The students who gathered at the school entrance were blessed with prayers by Siddique Sahamath, the moulvi of Montepadavu mosque. In his address to the students He said, “This is indeed a very good initiative taken up by the School, which will relieve the anxiety and stress of the students, where chances are that they may forget what they studied prior to the exam. Nice to note that SSLC exams have got that festive touch, which is quite impressive”. He ended his speech, by chanting a verse from the Quran.
Catholic priest Fr Michael D’souza of St Lawrence Church-Bola, and Hindu priest M C Shankar Bhat of Durgaparameshwari Math also offered prayers and blessed the students appearing for the exam. The priests were joined by Headmaster Santhosh Kumar, members of School Development Committee, villagers, many parents of the students and school teachers. Following the prayers the students were offered flowers and then treated to a sumptuous breakfast sponsored by Muralidhar Shetty M -the president of School Development Monitoring Committee; and also a pen, as a gift from Haneef, old student of the school, before they entered the exam hall. All the students looked very relaxed free from the exam stress and were in happy faces before entering the exam hall.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Laxmi appearing for the exam from a neighbouring school said, “This was something special which I never expected. I was fully stressed staying up late at night preparing for the exam, and now I am completely relieved after this royal welcome and treats from this school management. I am extremely thankful to the Headmaster and the management for their unbelievable gesture”. Zulekha from Al-Madina Kannada High School also had heartfelt thanks to the school management for the kind hospitality and friendly welcome, which took away the Exam anxiety.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Headmaster Santhosh Kumar said, “Students develop a sort of inhibition when they visit a new school in order to write the examinations. While writing examinations, the palms of students start sweating. The students also have butterflies in their stomach during the examination. Some students who study the whole night feel exhausted within a few minutes of writing examinations” When asked on what motivated him to take up such an initiative, Kumar said, “I was inspired by the Pink booth concept developed by Election Commission in the previous Assembly election to motivate women to exercise their franchise and decided to adopt the model for declaring SSLC examinations as a festival.”