Dream School 2009

What witnessed a flow of energy, rush of adrenaline, and a plethora of ideas was none other than Patna's largest Interschool Event - 'Dream School 2009'. On the pleasant morning of 28th April- School buses, students, teachers and other enthusiasts had already started thronging the place - even before it was time to say 'Welcome!',- atleast an hour before the reporting time.It was a journey through 60 schools of Patna, a journey of 1 and a half months, an epochal journey to let students dare, dream, think and talk about their 'Dream School'- a school that they visualised, a school that they had craved for since the very first day back at their own school. The journey through 60 schools- more than 10,000 students was indeed an exciting one. And here was what it culminated into - the Finals of Dream School 2009 at the beatiful auditorium called the Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir. It was a journey powered by Oxygen... a movement and carried out by the Event Director Sharad Vivek Sagar and Coordinator Chitranshu Tewari- both prominent student leaders of Oxygen and the city.
The event started with Chitranshu, coming onstage welcoming the people and introducing them to the Host of the event. Sharad Vivek Sagar, the Director of the event 'Dream School 2009', played an able Master of Ceremonies for the event keeping the audience involved and cheering all the way lest he signed off calling it a day.The Host announed the semi-final open. The Semifinal was a written round of thirty minutes wherein the students answered a common question - 'Why should your Dream School be chosen as an Idea Dream School?' Adding up the points of the Pre-finals stage(i.e. the project) and the Semi-finals, TOP 25 teams were picked and put on stage in 5 phases with 5 teams coming onstage at a time talking about themselves and their Project. Thereafter, out of the 25 teams - TOP 10 teams were chosen and put on stage where they faced questions from the Host, Dream Panel, and the audience. The Dream Panel comprised of Convener, Oxygen... a movement Binod Singh, International Climate Champion Barsa and Action for Nature International Eco-Hero Chitranshu Tewari .
After the TOP 10 teams underwent gruelling questions rounds- 7 teams got eliminated and Top 3 teams stepped forward faced the question of the rest of the 7 and finally made it and showed Patna what it takes to be Dream Champ 2009. And, interestingly, for what the host had kept them chanting at the top of their voice, the schools received accolades for that too. Everytime, the crowd seemed low on energy- the question from the host- Which is the best cheering school was just more than enough... that was the day Patna would never like to forget- not just for the cheering , the energy but the IDEAS...Finally, the Vote4Kids Marathon was announced for, where the students will run- to demand for a vote for them... their dreams... and turn the Dream School into a reality not just for a few, but ALL...

Oxygen ... a movement view

28/04/2009

Dream School! But for whom? Me or We

Two children dreamt of their schools. The first one dreamt... a lovely school, with a beautiful garden whose fragnance lights up the entire school, has air-conditioned classrooms, buses, olympic-size swimming pool, a laptop per child and a lot more... he dreamt of an school that utopian for the rest but highly affordable for him and a few of his family and friends. He was satisfied!Another child dreamt of a school- ... a small school not that big nor too small, having good facilities though not lavish, good classes, teachers and he dreamt of such a school for all the children irrespective of the background- financial or social, that they came from. He was willing!Making you a God for a Day or atleast the Education Minister of India atleast because this decision making post can indeed be touted as one of the mighty positions- one whom we can look upto for a better India - Whose dream are you most likely to grant? Before, we enter into the Dream School '09 the day after tomorrow, this is one thing we all must have very clear in our minds.Before, you choose either of the one- a maxim to go by- 'India does not live in its Six Metropolitans but in its Six Lakh Villages.' And for it to develop, India must develop its Six lakh villages with special impetus than just flaunting its metropolitans.Off course! One does wish to grant the wish of the second child - ... a school and for all. We need to talk about it seriously amongst us, our friends and wherever we get a chance to put it up. We don't need Five-Star schools, a normal school with minimum basic facilities would do- but it must be inclusive not exclusive. Talking about the kind of school we want and want for all- our government schools are the ones we can look upto and for this the government needs to ensure the quality in government school and one would be happy to send their children to government-run schools. If there are some of you sitting and wondering - Government Schools??? then, one must take your attention to the premier institutions IITs and IIMs where you spend so-so much of money to get your children in- then why not here, Sir/Mam? The day, our government schools shape up and infact shape up well, that will be the day when we can proudly say- we are on the path of development. Let us talk of inclusive schools not exclusive schools!

Oxygen ... a movement view

26/04/2009