Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar in Udupi Dist has reported a unique initiative by its alumni and well-to-do parents. The School which has a student population of over 3500 is facing an unprecedented situation in the wake of the pandemic Covid-19.

Many parents are unable to support their children’s fee payment fully, since the onset of the epidemic. Several parents have lost their jobs, including those employed abroad, and many have lost their businesses thus their very source of their livelihood. The School took a position that not a single child shall be deprived of education in the School on account of the parents’ inability to pay fees. The School has invited parents to apply for freeships to the tune of 50% of their fees, and in some cases 75% or in rare cases even 100%. As many as 250-300 parents have already been granted such freeships amounting to over Rs 50-60 lacs.

As the School needs to pay the salaries of its teachers and staff, and continue its ambitious online classes, the School solicited the support of its alumni spread all over the world to come to the aid of the parents in distress. Though the communication is slow to reach many of them, all those who get the news are extending their support. The School also has invited well-to-do parents to contribute a certain amount along with their children’s fees towards the newly created FMCF (For My Child’s Friend). There is a good response to this call as well.

As of now, the contributions from these sections are trickling in. It is the hope of the Director Prof. Mathew C. Ninan that as the news goes around, there will be a spontaneous support to such a good cause. If that happens, Little Rock’s will be a model worthy of emulation, wherein its alumni and a section of the parents themselves come forward to stand by the School at a critical phase in its history. He feels that if all the students who have received freeships in the past and are now financially better-off come forward, it will be a cakewalk for the School. But such ideal situations do not exist, unfortunately, he regretted.

The Principal of the School Dr. John Thomas is optimistic that the well-placed alumni and parents will show a generous spirit, and the School can weather this storm. Little Rock will thus be “taking a road not taken” and making the tough journey worth it all.