SHARP Educational Trust has been doing yeomen service in the field of Rural Education since its inception in 1996. While working with poorest of the poor communities in and around Neelampoondi village, we came across several issues that are directly linked with educational status of disadvantaged communities.
SHARP Educational Trust, with financial support from Literacy Indian Trust, Chennai, had implemented Adult literacy programme, especially for disadvantaged communities. The Adult literacy programme covered 1200 adults in 4 years.
The neo-literates were also organized into Self help Groups and introduced to Micro enterprises and Income Generation Programmes. 600 families were benefitted from the Income Generation Programme. Vocational Training Institute was established in the year 1998 in order to support Income Generation Programmes. The institute trained youth on tailoring and Secretarial assistance.
While training youth on Secretarial assistance, it was felt that lack of English education was a big draw-back and the demand came from the adults who had attended literacy programme, to start a school where their children can have access for English education. English education has become very vital in the context of changing scenario due to Globalization. Rural children are deprived of English education, hence, SHARP Educational trust determined to address this issue.
Since its inception, the school has been providing quality English education to children from poorest of the poor families in and around Neelampoondi village. Now the school has upto 7thStandard. The school has 250 students attended by 10 teachers. The school needs to be elevated into Matriculation status. At present, the school runs with inadequate class rooms, there are only 5 class rooms now.