Skill Development: a Concept Netarhat School Began With; It’s Time to Revisit It

Netarhat School – a brainchild of Bihar's first Chief Minister, SK Sinha, Education Minister, Acharya Badri Nath Verma, Chief Secretary, LP Singh, ICS and Education Secretary, JP Mathur – got off to a humble and quiet beginning some 60 years ago on 15^th November, 1954. It was, in fact, an experiment that, among other visions and philosophy intertwined in it, had the 'skill development' aspect as well deeply ingrained in the concept. In a way, therefore, while paying glowing tributes for this to its founding fathers, it may as well be stated that what India thinks today Bihar envisioned it decades ago.

From the beginning Netarhat School – a senior secondary residential school for boys in a sprawling campus of 150+ acres land on beautiful Netarhat plateau – boasted of, among other features, facilities like, Woodwork and Metalwork workshops and teaching of vocational subjects – Music, Fine Art and Agriculture. In addition, a number of playgrounds for football, hockey, cricket, basketball, volleyball, lawn tennis; and, not to forget oval ground for track and field events, ensured that boys (10-12 years to 16-18 years) had well laid out facilities and opportunities for early exposure, learning and grooming in these disciplines.

Catch 'em young, a phrase more often used in terms of developing the children's talents for further attainments, fitted in then, fits in now, more appropriately for the boys of this school in a kind of environment they were / are placed in rather early on.

It is, however, felt that the main focus of this school remained / remains on the academic excellence in the first place; enabling the boys to learn to appreciate the value of manual labour and the craft too continue to remain on the agenda, on a less significant note though. For this reason, therefore, a number of boys in every batch whether or not excelling to the desired level in academics, otherwise endowed with skill set and natural gift in non-academic pursuits like, Music and Fine Art, various games and sports etc., couldn't make any headway in the areas they were particularly skillful and comfortable. For want of opportunities for such skillful boys to be rewarded with promising career options those days they often landed up either in careers far removed from their preferred choice or ended up getting hold of the jobs that came their way solely for the sake of sustenance of self and family. Passion and skill sets of these boys, post- Netarhat, have thus far remained largely under wrap and untapped.

All these need to change now. With the 21^st century India and the world at large opening up avenues for promotion of excellence in various skill sets and rewarding career options linked therewith, it's time our mindset is given a shakeup to address this concern in so far as it relates to our alma mater.

Much talked of skill development, a concept Netarhat School is familiar with, now with the passage of time, needs to be revisited to be able to work out the methodology to take it forward. How to get along is an issue that's been engaging the mind of the school family lately. This issue, therefore, is being thrown open to Hatians in particular and others in general to discuss, debate and firm up suggestions, modality etc. that may further propel this thought process.

Skill India Mission is already on and is likely to pick up momentum in the years to follow. What is being suggested here is to also look a little beyond the scope of this GoI (Govt. of India) initiative in the backdrop of the opportunities in this sphere that Netarhat School presents. Our experience has been that in every batch, now comprising 100 boys, it's not that everyone, notwithstanding getting selected on merit at school's entrance test, at the close of education at Netarhat and later in institutions of higher learning, gets into the groove of one's choice; many falter and struggle and it's basically for this category of individuals endowed otherwise with skill sets that enlarging the scope for skill development at Netarhat is envisaged.

This topic is proposed to be taken up for discussion in a 'Workshop' scheduled for 15^th or 16^th November, 2015 at school premises coinciding with school's 'Foundation Day' functions.

All are cordially invited to join.

Hail! Hail!! Netarhat…