Nine months ago, Class 10 students of the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School (GVHSS) in Wayanad’s Vellarmala lost much – their school, homes, loved ones and friends– to the devastating landslide that struck the district. On Friday, the students secured 100 percent pass rate in their Class 10 board exams, scripting a tale of grit and resilience.
Results of the state board exams were announced Friday.
The landslide that struck on the night of July 30 last year had claimed 298 lives and partially wiped out the school, situated at the worst hit village Chooralmala. Among the victims were 32 school students of GVHSS Vellarmala – seven from Class 10. Two, meanwhile, lost both parents.
A month after the landslide, the school, with its 328 students and 26 teachers, was temporarily relocated to Meppadi – some 13 km away. Since then, students have been trying to pick up pieces of their lives — with the help of school, teachers, and the Parents-Teachers Association.
According to GVHSS headmaster V Unnikrishnan, it was a challenging task. A teacher was given the charge of three students, not only to keep an eye on their education but also their personal and family lives.
“As repeated sessions of counselling were not enough to help students return to normal days, we engaged them in various activities such as sports and arts. They took part in the state school fest, demonstrating their fighting spirit. That helped the students get out of the haunting memories of the traumatic night and the losses,” he said.
While a section of students continued to live in Chooralmala, the worst-affected ones were relocated to various villages under Meppadi panchayat. This meant that a bus — donated by Manipal Foundation – had to ferry them each day to school.
At school, special lessons for Class 10 were held from 7.30 am till 9.30 am. Then began their regular school lessons from 10 am to 4 pm. Students were not only given mid-day meals, also breakfast and supper with the support of two Kuwait-based organisations, Unnikrishnan said.
“Students would sometimes be absent-minded and lost in the classroom. Even during the board exams in March, students had problems because of the trauma of the devastation. But we nursed them back. For us, this mission was our responsibility rather than a sacrifice. We wanted to showcase a model of survival before the entire world,” Unnikrishnan said.
On the day of the result, Kerala’s Education Minister and senior (Marxist) leader V Sivankutty made special mention of the school, calling its Class 10 pass rate “inspiring”.
“It is a great strength of survival. All the 55 students who appeared for SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) exam from the landslide-ravaged GVHSS Vellarmala have become eligible for higher studies,” he said, adding: “I have called the headmaster Unnikrishnan to congratulate teachers, students and parents”.
Congress leader , the MP from Wayanad, made a mention of the school in a post, making special reference to Muhammad Haani K, a student who lost nine members of his family — including his parents and two siblings – to the landslide.
“…big congratulations to all students who passed the Kerala SSLC exams, and to GVHSS Vellarmala for achieving a 100 percent pass rate,” her post on Friday read. “Special congratulations to Muhammad Haani K, who rescued his grandmother during Wayanad’s darkest hour and has now passed his 10th-grade exams with flying colors (sic). Courage. Resilience. Brilliance. Your story inspires us all.”
