Trinity aims high
By Pratima Adhikary Auckel
Published on 4th July, 2008
The Medco Trinity Secondary School has taken the challenge by retrieving low achievers from deprived regions and catering for their educational needs. It promises to forge its way ahead by exploring new avenues for future citizens.
Located in the eastern suburb of Port Louis, this school opened its doors in 1994 and has catered for thousands of students on the outskirts. Over the years many pupils have secured good jobs, some have successfully pursued higher studies while others are settled in their own businesses. The college has a population of over 300 boys from Forms 1 to V and also a pre-vocational section.
Gunputh Nathoo, Rector, says: “With the opening of new schools, our intake is gradually eroding.”
However, he adds that “it is one of the rare schools offering Design and Technology, and Design and Communication, subjects which prepare pupils for a number of jobs in our growing economy. Also, these two subjects have always reaped a high level of success at the School Certificate examinations.”
Academically, the school is on the average side with 45% pass at School Certificate. Yet, it struggles hard to bring good results. It has all the facilities that students require for their overall development.
Nathoo says: “We groom the pupils during five years, give them all the motivation they need to grab the best. Our pupils, although average in academics, are very good in extra curricular activities. For the past few years we have been bagging top prizes in different inter-school competitions.”
He adds: “We also organize a lot of activities to lighten their spirit, for example, the prize giving day with the help of the PTA. We deliver certificates to them as a testimony to their effort.”
Gunputh Nathoo, Rector, says: “With the opening of new schools, our intake is gradually eroding.”
However, he adds that “it is one of the rare schools offering Design and Technology, and Design and Communication, subjects which prepare pupils for a number of jobs in our growing economy. Also, these two subjects have always reaped a high level of success at the School Certificate examinations.”
Academically, the school is on the average side with 45% pass at School Certificate. Yet, it struggles hard to bring good results. It has all the facilities that students require for their overall development.
Nathoo says: “We groom the pupils during five years, give them all the motivation they need to grab the best. Our pupils, although average in academics, are very good in extra curricular activities. For the past few years we have been bagging top prizes in different inter-school competitions.”
He adds: “We also organize a lot of activities to lighten their spirit, for example, the prize giving day with the help of the PTA. We deliver certificates to them as a testimony to their effort.”
Shaping the future
There are clear indications that the school is dedicated to shaping the future of its pupils and to make them responsible citizens of tomorrow. Currently, its stakeholders are focusing on the idea of addressing the issue of food crisis.
“We are encouraging our students to work and participate in micro projects. Just sharing information and lectures on the food issue will not help,” says Rector Gunputh Nathoo.
He adds “We need to empower our pupils to be self-sufficient, and we encourage them to embark on home gardens. The PTA , the school administration, along with the sponsors and the local community, will be providing necessary material support. If they are interested in poultry breeding, vegetable cultivation, we help them in finding a market in the neighbourhood.”
Another project to supplement the above is the use of compost. There is a market near the school. Three times a week, the discarded vegetables are collected to make compost which can be used for any cultivation.
We are taking up such projects to initiate and encourage our students to start with something different and fruitful,” he adds.
“Our third project is in the field of hydroponics. We will make use of the space available upstairs. Thus, we can show students how, with a little investment, they can cultivate something and become self sufficient in future.
“The teachers are also working on the issue of water crisis. The students as well as the school are located in a region where there is water problem. So, we try to educate them about addressing the shortage of water. We inform and show students how to make economical use of water and also different ways to collect water that can be used for gardening and washing. In a small group, this is a bold idea coming from our school,” says Nathoo.
Pupils leave the institution mentally grown up. The school gives them the essence and rudiments of basic life, along with empowering them to be responsible citizens of tomorrow.
“Irrespective of the intake, we want our schools to be at par with others. We want our students to gear their attention towards tertiary education.”
“We have a challenging job ahead and given the opportunity and space to grow, we promise to do much better,” Nathoo adds.
“We are encouraging our students to work and participate in micro projects. Just sharing information and lectures on the food issue will not help,” says Rector Gunputh Nathoo.
He adds “We need to empower our pupils to be self-sufficient, and we encourage them to embark on home gardens. The PTA , the school administration, along with the sponsors and the local community, will be providing necessary material support. If they are interested in poultry breeding, vegetable cultivation, we help them in finding a market in the neighbourhood.”
Another project to supplement the above is the use of compost. There is a market near the school. Three times a week, the discarded vegetables are collected to make compost which can be used for any cultivation.
We are taking up such projects to initiate and encourage our students to start with something different and fruitful,” he adds.
“Our third project is in the field of hydroponics. We will make use of the space available upstairs. Thus, we can show students how, with a little investment, they can cultivate something and become self sufficient in future.
“The teachers are also working on the issue of water crisis. The students as well as the school are located in a region where there is water problem. So, we try to educate them about addressing the shortage of water. We inform and show students how to make economical use of water and also different ways to collect water that can be used for gardening and washing. In a small group, this is a bold idea coming from our school,” says Nathoo.
Pupils leave the institution mentally grown up. The school gives them the essence and rudiments of basic life, along with empowering them to be responsible citizens of tomorrow.
“Irrespective of the intake, we want our schools to be at par with others. We want our students to gear their attention towards tertiary education.”
“We have a challenging job ahead and given the opportunity and space to grow, we promise to do much better,” Nathoo adds.
Gifted & talented pupils
The Medco schools are celebrating their15th anniversary this year. All have joined together to organize different academic and extra-curricular activities.
This school had the responsibility to hold literary activities, and initiated quiz, debate and elocution contests and also an essay writing competition.
Yalini Yallappa, an English teacher also responsible for the extra-curricular activities, points out that the school is like a nursery for pupils. She says “ all are not blessed with good academic skills, but are gifted with some other talents. Two pupils have shown exceptional talent and skill at addressing the audience.”
Ivans Vert and Mohammad Nadir Bhollah of Form V are the winners of the debate and elocution contests.
They share that it would have been a difficult task without the support and help of the teachers. “Our teachers not only polished and groomed us, but also made us feel confident. Moreover, our teachers recognize and believe even in the little things we are capable of doing,” they say.
To this, Nalini adds : “On discovering their talents, it is our duty to groom them and also show them further avenues for the future. We are also starting a music club next year. The materials and equipment have already been purchased. We are launching this because many students after leaving us, find jobs in the hotel sector. The hotel sector is very demanding with good scope for employment. The music clubs will better prepare them for jobs in this field.”
This school had the responsibility to hold literary activities, and initiated quiz, debate and elocution contests and also an essay writing competition.
Yalini Yallappa, an English teacher also responsible for the extra-curricular activities, points out that the school is like a nursery for pupils. She says “ all are not blessed with good academic skills, but are gifted with some other talents. Two pupils have shown exceptional talent and skill at addressing the audience.”
Ivans Vert and Mohammad Nadir Bhollah of Form V are the winners of the debate and elocution contests.
They share that it would have been a difficult task without the support and help of the teachers. “Our teachers not only polished and groomed us, but also made us feel confident. Moreover, our teachers recognize and believe even in the little things we are capable of doing,” they say.
To this, Nalini adds : “On discovering their talents, it is our duty to groom them and also show them further avenues for the future. We are also starting a music club next year. The materials and equipment have already been purchased. We are launching this because many students after leaving us, find jobs in the hotel sector. The hotel sector is very demanding with good scope for employment. The music clubs will better prepare them for jobs in this field.”
Creative minds at work
The school has no dearth of creative minds. The sculpture exhibition which was held months back grabbed the attention of many authorities including the media. Vibrant and interesting, the displayed objects had a lesson to teach. Pravin Narraidoo, the Art teacher says: “the sculpture garden is solely the hard work of our pupils. We just guided them. They prepared small and big sculptures out of junk materials like scrap objects, iron bars, old car wheels, trunks, caps of bottles. The idea was to make proper utilization of things that are thought to be of no use.
The official launching was done by the Minister of Education, Dharam Gokhool, and later it was taken up by the MCA. This was our main extra-curricular activity for last year apart from the cross country, inter-house and other activities.”
It is important to engage the energy and mind of the students in a number of activities, otherwise they might fall prey to many anti social pressures. Involving them in artistic work boosts their thinking skills. When their work is appreciated and admired it makes them happy.
“We revitalize all our teaching strategies and make use of the resources to make teaching and learning a meaningful and pleasant experience,” Narraidoo says.
The official launching was done by the Minister of Education, Dharam Gokhool, and later it was taken up by the MCA. This was our main extra-curricular activity for last year apart from the cross country, inter-house and other activities.”
It is important to engage the energy and mind of the students in a number of activities, otherwise they might fall prey to many anti social pressures. Involving them in artistic work boosts their thinking skills. When their work is appreciated and admired it makes them happy.
“We revitalize all our teaching strategies and make use of the resources to make teaching and learning a meaningful and pleasant experience,” Narraidoo says.