Quota of courage sets them apart

Shreya Ray / TNN / May 24, 2006, 00:59 IST

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Even as the city flaunts its list of Class XII toppers and merit-holders, it's time for a quiet celebration for 'scholarship' students.

NEW DELHI: It's a story that tells you 'merit' is really about opportunity. And the reason why reservation isn't such a bad word.
So while the rest of the city may be celebrating its record list of toppers, 90-percenters and merit-list holders, in a quiet corner of the city is the story of the underprivileged quota or "scholarship" students of Springdales School, Pusa Road.With a 100% pass percentage, a 74% average and courage that is awe-inspiring.
"When you are expected to do something and given an environment that allows you to achieve it, there's no reason why you won't," says Hardeep Kaur, who has scored 78.8% in Science.
Hardeep, who lost her father �� a daily-wage carpenter �� earlier this year, says that the atmosphere at school empowered her.

"I expected more but after speaking to my principal who told me how proud she was of me, I am happy," she added in a tremulous voice.
Sakshi Gupta, who was always a good student never really expected to top her class with 87.8% after her father died this December...
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"I was determined to do well since I have to support my family now. And my father's blessings and my teachers' support have seen me through," she said.
Chanchal Sharma, whose father is a head-constable in Delhi Police, was in a municipal school till Class V. She says that it's the opportunity to join a public school that made all the difference.

"Being allowed to join this school just changed things in my life. My teachers have been so helpful and supportive that I attribute my success solely to them," she said.
In all, eighteen of these "scholarship-scheme" students from all three streams have scored an average of 74%. "We call it the scholarship scheme since we don't want to bracket them as students from underprivileged or weaker sections.
They have been drawn from municipal schools at the Class V stage and then inducted into our school."...
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So apart from the Delhi government directive that orders schools to waive tuition fees of students under the underprivileged quota, these students are also given coaching for professional colleges, uniforms, reference books, tutorials, et al.
The idea is to provide education that is about integration. We don't want to create elite ghettos or poor-kid ghettos. It's just a question of opportunity," she adds.
At Laxman Public School too, there is a similar story. While Anita Singh, daughter of the school peon, has scored 70.5%, Pramila, her classmate has scored 68%.

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