‘We have tried to make the school more interesting and the experience of school worth remembering,’ says principal

Srinagar: With one student topping the science stream and 154 others scoring distinctions in the Class 12 exam s of the J&K school education board, the Muslim Educational Institute (MEI) in Pampore is celebrating 50 years of its establishment with the pride that comes from excellence.
The institute began in a small kachha accommodation with pre-primary classes. That was a small but first step in a journey that has now reached classes up to 12th standard in three steams of higher secondary education – Medical, Science, and Commerce. The school now has three campuses with large playgrounds that provide excellent facilities for sports.
“The enrolment is good. We have about 2,400 students now and faculty of more than 100,” said Tariq Ahmad, principal of the school.
The school is affiliated with JKBOSE and is happy with the academic calendar and syllabus of the regional board. “We don’t want to switch to CBSE,” says the principal.
Like in this year, the school has come up with excellent results in board exams in previous years as well. In the 2019 results, 109 students achieved distinction, while in 2018, one student topped and 104 scored distinctions. In 2017, one student topped and 100 scored distinctions.
“We have complete trust in our teachers and staff. They drive the school and have a very creative mode of teaching. We believe in team work, we take collective decisions here,” Ahmad said.
Sports are the priority of the school, he said, for which the school has in place a very good playground and many indoor and outdoor games facilities.
“Bookish knowledge is not everything. We do a lot more here. Actually we believe that along with classroom activity, children need to go out to the playground and try out different sports, do some exercise. It makes them stay focused and also infuses in them team spirit,” the principal said.
Along with academic studies, students are encouraged to participate in games and athletics, art and craft, science clubs and various other activities, he said. “These make the school more interesting and the experience of school worth remembering,” Ahmad said.
Intellectual activities like debates, essay writing competitions, etc are also regular events in the school, he said.
The school has a well-equipped library where almost 2,500 textbooks and reference books are available, the principal informed.
During the Covid pandemic lockdown, the school administration provided online classes to students while free coaching classes in winter were provided to anyone in need of them, even students of other schools.
“From Class 9 to 12 we provide free coaching classes, and the best thing is anyone can join the class, free of cost,” Ahmad said.

NAZIMA SIDIQ