RISE School was set up in a remote village where the requirement for a quality school was very high. A detailed survey was carried out in early 2000 and Samiyandipudhur village in Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu was identified as an ideal location to start a school for rural children. There was a dire need for a school which could provide educational opportunities as good as urban schools but at an affordable cost.
Mr. R Krishnan and Mrs. Geetha Krishnan started RISE School and RISE India Trust to provide opportunities to children who would otherwise not get access to quality education. From inception, the guiding philosophy has been that access to good education in rural areas must not be limited by affordability issues and hence, the school fee for children is heavily subsidized by contributions from donors. The capital cost is raised through contributions from the founders, philanthropists, foundations and CSR initiatives.
RISE School caters to children from neighboring villages. The School fee recovers only a part of the running expenses. The fee has been fixed as per the government norms. No extra fee is charged for extra-curricular activities or capital cost, though students do pay for uniforms, books and school bus facilities in case they avail of it. Students from very poor families are given scholarships varying from 33% to 100% of the Tuition fee. In addition, students admitted under RTE (Right To Education) are provided free education as per government rules.
At RISE School education is provided at a subsidized cost to the children from surrounding villages. A part of the cost is recovered through fee from the students as per the government norms. No extra fee is charged for extra-curricular activities or capital cost. Students from very poor background are given scholarships to the tune of 75% to 100% of the Tuition fee. In addition, students admitted under RTE are provided free of cost education.
RISE School focuses on increasing the joy in learning and creating independent learners. Children are encouraged to voice their opinions and be fearless in expressing their thoughts. Instead of focusing solely on marks, importance is given to conceptual understanding and strengthening of the basics (reading comprehension, math operations) for each child. Children learn in a joyous atmosphere that is free from fear of corporal punishment or discrimination.
Sustainable agricultural activities are carried out in the campus to subsidize the cost of education. A well-maintained coconut grove and a fruit orchard supplement the school’s income. Since agricultural operations are the mainstay of the local economy, this is also a good training ground for the children who maintain a kitchen garden.
RISE School was set up in a remote village where the requirement for a quality school was very high. A detailed survey was carried out in early 2000 and Samiyandipudhur village in Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu was identified as an ideal location to start a school for rural children as there was a need for a school which provide equal educational opportunities as their urban peers at affordable cost.