Summer schools mushroom across capital city

Thiruvananthapuram: Ever since the regular classes have been over in schools, there have been a mushrooming of summer schools across the capital city. While the government has banned all sorts of summer schools due to hot weather, they have started functioning.

Children don't have to study anything as such as most of the summer schools engage them in games and crafts.

Jeevan Vinod, a ten-year-old student of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in the city, was slightly hesitant to join any. He wanted to enjoy the summer holidays by tagging after his grandparents or sitting in the comforts of the “cool home” either playing games on his mother, Betty K. John’s mobile phone or watching television. But Betty, a software professional, was keen to enrol him in a play school which would enhance his skills further.

Betty told DC that it was after several enquiries, she chanced upon ‘Vandrum Summer Camp’ at the Sports Hub at Karyavattom.

“Fortunately, I did not have to drop him at the summer camp as they provide pick up and drop. I have enrolled my son at Sports Hub for two months where he is learning swimming and football among the various choices of sports. His attitude to enjoying summer holidays has also changed by leaps and bounds. The fee is also reasonable, Rs 14,000 for two months including GST”, said Betty.

The good thing is that since it is an indoor stadium, there is no question of being exposed to the humid weather. V. R. Rajan, one of the directors of the Vandrum Sports told DC that they had to stop the admission due to heavy rush of parents to enrol their wards. Currently, there are 650 students enjoying their summer holidays to the hilt.

“Our primary aim was to engage the kids into summer activities. We divided them into primary school, middle school and high school. For the first time, we have also brought in horse riding.  In each class there will be 40 students where they will be taken care of their class teacher, two supporting staff, coach and supporting coaches“, said Rajan of Vandrum Sports where they are also the operators of the Green Field Stadium for the next one year.

Sunitha, advertising and public relations professional, has been sending her nine-year-old son, Surya Narayanan to Paadashala for summer school. She is happy that she chose Paadashala as now her son is picking up a new language, French, along with swimming, yoga, drama and a whole lot of activities.

“This summer school is being managed by an all women crew. I have been sending Surya to Paadashala even during the academic year where they pick him from my son’s school, feeds him, helps him with the homework and also does a revision. On some days, I will be stuck at the office, and on those days, they even provide dinner to him. All this costs me only close to Rs 6000”, said Sunitha.

Seema Richard, the founder of Schoolkutti.com children’s library, told DC that with the mushrooming of the summer schools, it is always difficult to choose the best among the lot. She is speaking out of the experience as her son, 14-year-old Arjun has been experiencing summer schools every year since his growing up years.

“Initially, I used to feel that most of the summer schools function as a day-care centre. In between, they squeeze in some programmes. Only very few summer schools are beneficial to the children where they have applied proper thought to improve their skills”, said Seema.

She also cautions all parents who are interested in sending their children to summer schools to make proper enquiry and to collect the feedback from previous students and their parents. Seema feels that while interacting with the summer school authorities, one gets an idea of whether they are focussed in imparting both knowledge and skills together.