By Vivek C and Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean udupi

Udupi: At present, Kannada medium schools are loosing their value . Children and parents prefer English medium schools over the kannada medium schools for their children.  Rukmani Shedthy Memorial National Higher Primary School, in Herady, Barkoor has created history, by having more number of students than 25 years ago.In the year 1962 Maskibailu Ramachandra started the Herady school. And in the year 1982 this institution was revived and named National Institute.

In the very same institution was a very hard working and deserving student who got the taste of education during the very difficult stage of poverty. But later he went to Mumbai and with his hard work and dedication started the famous firm, Vasudha Chemicals. This great person is Barkur Sudhakar Shetty who is showing immense interest in the institute and trying his best to preserve the sanctity and importance of the institution.

From providing uniforms, to school bags, umbrellas, shoes, food, note books, text books, educational visits, transportation facility, good quality of lunch,  all these facilities have been provided by Barkur Sudhakar Shetty for the past 25 years.

This school has been outperforming all the other institutions in cultural and sports activities. Even though there is an English medium school nearby, this institute has 171 children in kindergarten, 35 children in every class, 8 teachers,  5 permanent staff, and 3 other part-time staff serve here. Both the teachers and the students come dressed in uniforms.

This effort by Sudhakar shetty is something remarkable and appreciated by all. This good will and kind heartedness of his needs is to be saluted and recognized.

Speaking to Mangalorean.com Srikathayya Head Master of the school said that teachers and children must compulsorily be made to study in Kannada Medium Schools first.  Teachers enrolling their children into English Medium Schools and asking others to send their children to our school is highly objectionable.  If English were to be introduced and taught in 6th Standard itself, Kannada Medium Schools can survive. Schools can achieve greater things if there were to be one Sudhakar Shetty in every village. This year he has donated 2 lacs, he has been financing this school for the past 25 years and taking care to see that the school functions well.

Sudhakar Shetty has 5 brothers who all are in high positions in the society. Sudhakar Shetty, being the eldest, in the hallowed memory of this mother Rukmini Shedthy, has donated 1 crore for the formation of a college in Barkur to be renamed Rukmini Shedthi Memorial First Grade College.  Barkur being a temple town of 365 temples has now formed Kinder Garten to PG Courses, says  Dhashree Acharya, First MSC student of Rukmini Shedthy Memorial Govt. First Grade College.

Barkur Sudhakar Shetty who is trying to develop the school said that one who is well grounded in his native language can learn any number of languages.  English is also one of the several languages.  I also studied in the same school, I speak several languages of this nation.  Language is a reflection of one's feelings. Education is power, this is supplementary to all departments of life.  I do all this having in view that my village children must not have dearth of anything.

It is all left to the parents as to where their children need to study.  Parent’s today falling prey to the attraction of English language, has effected Kannada Medium Schools badly.  Todays professors who teach English were all educated in Kannada Medium Schools,and most of the people do not know about it says Gopal Ganiga, Barkur, a parent.