From OBA President - State of Our School.. Dire Straits?
2020-10-14,
My dear Kazakhs,
1. I write to seek the assistance of Old Boys (OBs) to help out SSKZM on two pressing issues. Firstly, the dwindling financial assistance from Kerala govt for running of the School, including pay and pension of staff. Secondly, as to what assistance can be rendered by the OBA to improve the intake into NDA. We have lot many influential and well placed OBs amongst us, who can exert influence at the political and bureaucratic level, as also advice on the NDA intake.
2. I shall request the batch reps to circulate this to your respective batches by way of their batch WhatsApp group or Googlegroup/ Yahoogroup and obtain feedback/ ideas from them. 1974 batch has volunteered to collate these feedbacks and put it up to the EC for further action. To this end, I shall request the batch reps to either post your reply in the OBA Batch Council group or PM to Col Sajjad, No 8547940918 , mail id sajjad574@hotmail.com or Brig Josekutty, No 9619498282 or mail id josekutty_kurian@yahoo.co.in.
3. Financial Assistance from Kerala govt. SSKZM requires approximately Rs 10 crores every year from the State govt, on recurrent basis, for its smooth running, including payment of pay and pensions to staff. The previous LBA Chairman, Air Marshal Suresh, C-in-C Southern Air Command used to take lots of interest in the School and with his good equation with the Kerala govt hierarchy, he could have his way. Things are not that smooth presently.
4. The top Kerala govt hierarchy, including Mr Thomas Isaac, Finance minister, is fully seized of the problem, but the present financial crunch resulting from COVID, has made it difficult for them. It is here that we require the intervention of some influential OBs, who can continue pushing at the top political (more important) and bureaucratic level. The School is interested in pushing through a long term MOU with the Kerala govt, so that this yearly ritual of going around with the begging bowl can be avoided. Suggestions and ideas from OBs to mitigate this problem would be most welcome.
5. Intake into NDA. By now it's a known fact that the poor intake into NDA is the root cause for Kerala govt's apathy towards our cause. They are rightly pointing out as to why they should spend so much money on the School, when the basic purpose for its setting up is not being met, ie being a feeder institution for the Defence Forces Academies.
6. Interaction by few of the concerned OBs with students, ex-students and parents reveals that it is not the disinterest of the students which is the primary reason for such pathetic intake into NDA. Many of the genuinely interested cadets are not able to clear the UPSC exam, because it's much more tougher these days, I am told.
7. The OBA intends to initiate the following actions in the foreseeable future, of course with permission and concurrence of the School administration:-
a) Reps of the volunteer OBs, if required, with a hired Psychologist, interact informally with the senior students, without the presence of School staff or senior administrators. Starting with 12th std, we can have separate sittings with upto 9th std.
b) Again OBA reps would interact with the PTA President and other volunteer parents of present and ex-students to get their side of the story, as to what is lacking- is it lack of interest or motivation of the students or is it lack of proper coaching and guidance for the UPSC exam and SSB interview? Again, it should be 1-on-1 with parents only with no School staff present.
c) OBA reps should interact with the present teaching staff of the School and get their views, ideas and suggestions for improving this pathetic state of affairs, which in all fairness, is a blot on the teaching staff too.
d) After all these interactions, the nominated OBA team should give a detailed presentation to the School administration, ie the Principal, Headmaster and Adm Officer, with the recommendations and the way forward. This OBA committee should continue to interact with the School to help them out as and when they face any hinderance, either by way of procedural or financial.
8. If required, OBA could also financially sponsor special coaching sessions for UPSC exam and SSB interview, for both present and past students, by specialised coaching academics in Kerala or if required even from Delhi, by getting their faculty over to the School campus. I am sure our illustrious alumni would be willing to financially help in such positive ventures of the OBA.
9. All of us Kazakhs owe it to that great institution for what we are today. It is therefore incumbent on us to rise to the occasion and help it out during this difficult period that it is passing through.
Thanking you all and Jai Hind.
Cdr Sam T Samuel
President, OBA SSKZM