Kundapur: Scrapped bus transformed into a smart class inaugurated at Bagwadi

Kundapur: At a time when most rural schools are bereft of basic facilities, the kids at the government higher primary school Noojadi, Bagwadi here can now learn school work riding on a bus.

A scrapped KSRTC bus, that has been transformed into a smart classroom for young learners, was inaugurated at the school on Saturday, March 12. This unique classroom was inaugurated by the local MLA BM Sukumar Shetty.

The smart classrooms have state-of-the-art teaching-learning facilities in the audio-visual aids such as a projector, screens, speakers, etc. The classroom not only is painted in attractive colors and motifs but also comes with lights, fans — all powered by solar energy.

This was possible by the ideas and initiative of an alumnus of the government school, Prashant Achar. Being a student of the school, Achar was reportedly pained by the lack of classrooms and other facilities at his alma mater. Though Bagwadi government school has a history of 97 years, there are only 5 classrooms for students of class 1 through class 7 at the school. Moreover, there was no laboratory or library at the school.

Achar used his talent in art to draw the attention of authorities. He created prototypes and replicas of KSRTC buses and sent them to the then-transport minister Laxman Savadi. He put forth the idea that old bus nearing their end, could be transformed into smart classrooms at a fraction of the cost of constructing new buildings.

Impressed by the idea, the education department, in association with KSRTC decided to experiment with the idea. They donated a bus, in December 2020, to Achar to turn it into a classroom for kids. Despite the work being delayed due to the pandemic, the bus is now ready to welcome young learners.  It has now been aesthetically designed and modified into a smart classroom.