Hallmark Public High School, Naka Chandrawadni, Lashkar, Gwalior, Madhaya Pradesh, North India
ManASVI
Kamal Kishor Sharma, Hallmark’s Principal
When you find someone doing the right thing, and who can achieve much more with a little additional money, then being involved is a good investment. When that investment is in the education of the children of poorer families in a developing country the case becomes compelling.
Hallmark Public High School was established in 2004 to provide a modern education complying with the State curriculum and offering all pupils the opportunity to sit the State set examinations. The school is situated on the southern outskirts of Gwalior close to areas where many low income families live and where there is at least one ‘illegal settlement’. Being on the outskirts of the city the school is also within reach of small villages beyond the city boundary. Because so many of the school’s pupils are drawn from these areas fees must be made affordable for typical ‘dollar a day’ families.
A month’s tuition for a pupil at high school will cost the family about £3.60. A brother or sister will be half that, and a third sibling will be free. This brings a modern education within the reach of low income families.
The success of the school is impressive and it has quickly grown to a role of about 500 pupils (a high proportion of them girls) taught by a staff of 25 graduate teachers. Exam success rate is high. Every class room is full and the school operates morning and afternoon sessions. English is taught as a second language and for older pupils lessons are in English medium.
Hallmark’s Principal and founder, Kamal Kishor Sharma MA BSc, has a lot of sympathy with children trapped in villages where their education ends after the village primary school. He knows what it is like. He himself could not complete his education until his eldest brother settled in Gwalior. Only then could he move from the family village 50 miles away to live with his brother, attend high school and go on to the city university.
Families living in the surrounding villages see education as the route out of poverty for their children and are keen to have their children attend Hallmark. The obstacle is the cost and availability of transport. To overcome the difficulties his village pupils found in travelling to school Kamal started hiring school transport in 2006. ManASVI has joined to help. Now he is particularly proud of the exam success, often at distinction level, of the village boys and girls attending his school.
Hallmark Public High School welcomes visitors interested in the work of the school. Visits are best during term time (July – April) and can be arranged through ManASVI.