Mangaluru: An RFID-enabled turnstile gate that alerts parents the moment their child enters campus, Wi-Fi-enabled classrooms with interactive digital boards, sanitary pad vending machines, and a fully app-based attendance system are transforming learning at a private school in rural Dakshina Kannada.Balavikas English Medium School in Mani, about 35 km from Mangaluru, has rolled out the technology-driven initiatives to bring facilities typically associated with urban schools and corporate campuses to a rural setting. The RFID-enabled turnstile system, formally introduced this academic year after a year-long pilot, replaces manual attendance while allowing parents to track their child’s movement in real time.Students scan RFID cards while boarding and alighting from school buses, triggering instant notifications on the school app as well as SMS alerts to parents. A similar alert is generated when they enter the campus through the turnstile gate — a feature the school says is especially useful during the monsoon. Parents can also apply for leave for their children through the app.“Our aim is to ensure students in rural areas have access to the same technology and systems seen in the corporate world, while allowing parents peace of mind,” said Mahesh Shetty J, secretary of the school.The school, which has 885 students from nursery to class 10, charges Rs 1,000 a month for round-trip bus services from Mangaluru.Every classroom is equipped with interactive digital boards, teachers use tablets for instruction, and the entire campus is Wi-Fi enabled. The premises are monitored by 223 CCTV cameras, including about 20 high-definition cameras covering playgrounds and other open areas.The institution has also installed a sanitary pad vending machine and an incinerator for safe disposal, while drinking water is regularly tested to ensure quality. A 28-member housekeeping team maintains the campus.The school has also reimagined birthday celebrations. Chocolates are not permitted. Instead, parents can contribute Rs 5,000 towards serving payasa to all students in the child’s name, while students are encouraged to donate books to the library on their birthdays. Names of birthday celebrants are displayed on campus and they receive greeting cards from the school.Academic toppers and students with perfect attendance are not given prizes. Instead, the school promotes holistic development through nearly 60 competitions covering sports, cultural activities and extracurricular pursuits. It also has an indoor stadium to encourage year-round sporting activities.“I want children to attend at least 10 family functions every year. Building relationships with family is as important as scoring marks,” Shetty said.
