CB BureauA new primary-school building in Phadke-Wasti, Nighoje, has been inaugurated in the emerging industrial zone of Chakan, Pune. Developed solely by Volkswagen India as part of its CSR initiatives in education and skill development, the school can cater up to 120 students every year. In addition to the basic primary level education, the curriculum will also focus on increasing awareness on natural resources and environmental conservation among the children.
A new school building was the top priority due to the many inadequacies of the old school building including lack of space to accommodate the increasing demand for seats. The new building has two floors with one room for each of the four standards in the primary school. Previously, one room had to be shared by two grades. The new building has separate rooms for indoor extracurricular activities and the staff. The school premises has a kitchen to provide midday meal for the students.
The school is also equipped with its own rainwater harvesting system and greywater treatment system that will enable canna and banana plants to grow on campus. This new building will be certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and is expected to receive either a Silver or a Gold rating.
The school is developed and managed by the zilla parishad and the relevant authorities at district/taluka level. As of now, the company doesn’t have any plan to build more such schools, the official spokesperson informs CauseBecause. However, Volkswagen does intend to engage with the students and teachers on a regular basis. It has planned a set of activities on environmental awareness including formation of Green Clubs and will help students and teachers interact with other schools in the area. e-Learning and teacher training are the two areas where the company plans suitable interventions.
As per the official press release, Dr Andreas Lauermann, president and managing director, Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd, said, ‘We have had long discussions with our neighbouring communities to find out their needs and requirements with a focus on long-term growth and development. Education is a key aspect for growth and having the right infrastructure can make a world of difference in the early stages of a child’s development. We have been committed to helping communities in a sustainable manner and will continue to do so in the future.’