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On 6th November 2005 at the Diwali Function, I expressed my views on the importance of learning Gujarati language for our Children in my first speech as the President of Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj U.K.
I followed this up and put forward proposals to start a Gujarati School to the Executive Committee who fully supported my proposals and agreed to financially underwrite the costs.
I started planning to set up a new school in early 2006. As part of our research Maduben Kalaria, couple of other volunteers and I visited Shishukunj School three times, where they run classes for Gujarati language, cultural and religious activities. We got very useful information and ideas on how to start and run Gujarati classes.
We also paid a visit to Swami Narayan School in Willesden who gave us lot of information too and we brought their text books and the syllabus they use to teach Gujarati language.
On 21st of April 2006, we had our first meeting with volunteers and established a KPS Gujarati School Committee and agreed the plan to set up a new school.
The Committee sent out circulars to all our Samaj members who had children between the age of 6 and 14 years requesting them for their support send them to KPS Gujarati School. We also advertised in Gujarat Samachar of our intention of starting a Gujarati school. We received good response and twenty one pupils applied to join Gujarati classes.
We visited three different schools and found Kenmore Park First and Middle School on Moorhouse Road, Kenton most suitable and cheapest to hire. We applied to Harrow Council to hire Kenmore Park School and received their approval within few weeks.
The enrolment took place on 8th July 2006 at Kadwa Patidar Centre. We gave details of the syllabus, the annual fee (i.e. £120 per pupil) we were going to charge to cover the costs. We also gave them the term dates, days and times of Gujarati classes.
We interviewed all prospective candidates and appointed teachers with the help of Mr Jagdishbhai Dave who is a professor in Gujarati language. Everyone, committee members, teachers and other volunteers who were going to help run the school were asked to obtain their CRB checks.
Text books were bought from Pradip Pustak Bhandar, Rajkot, India and also from Kashmira Baria. Other stationery and a metal cupboard were donated by Vinubhai Dadhania.
A separate school bank account was opened at Barclays Bank in Edgware. The surplus from the Valentines Day party organised by Vinubhai Dadhania was kindly donated to the school.
We registered the school as a Company in August 2006 with help from Raj Patel and Rajni Kansagra. KPS Gujarati Schoolbecame charitable organisation in April 2007.
School was officially opened on 9th September 2006 by our local MP Mr Tony McNulty MP. At the opening ceremony other guests included Councillor Anjana Patel, Suresh Kansagra JP, Dr Sushilaben and Devshibhai, Jagdishbhai Dave and other committee members and volunteers were also present.
The school has been running successfully and we are in the fourth year and with some pupil now in pre GCSE level and they will taking their GCSE exams in 2010/2011. Alonside with teaching Gujarati one of our aims is to instil our culture and rlegious values in our children.
I am very proud that small community such as ours can set up and run Gujarati classes. This would not been achieved without the untiring commitment of our volunteers and my sincere thanks go them.
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By Rajendrabhai Changela |
