Doors open to eight new solar-powered ‘zero energy’ classrooms to help meet education needs of rapidly growing student body
BNY Mellon, a leader in investment services and investment management, and its NGO partner, Art of Living (IAHV), recently provided grants to help support today’s opening of the newly expanded Zilla Parishad School in Wablewadi, Pune, India. The state-of-art facility was built on land donated by local farmers, and is the only school in the Pune city that runs on solar power, and boasts eight ‘zero-energy’ classrooms.
“BNY Mellon is invested in making a positive difference in our communities through our philanthropic grants and employee volunteering,” said Sudish Panicker, Managing Director and Head, BNY Mellon India. “We are excited to support the expansion of Wablewadi school, which is ISO certified and has been recognized as an ‘International Ojas school’ on account of its pedagogy.”
The school’s eight new 22ft by 14ft ‘zero-energy’ classrooms feature toughened glass, polycarbonate, and tensile membrane roof construction. Additionally, a 4kgwt solar energy system was installed to power the Wi-Fi enabled campus that has more than 30 computers, along with the village’s street lamps. The number of students enrolled in the school has grown exponentially and has increased by 900% over the last four years. Approximately 350 students studying in grades 1-8 are enrolled in the school, with more than 800 students on the waiting list.
Panicker added, “Through a technologically enabled teaching environment, the school will help the community in preparing children for the future and will be a model from which others can learn.”
On hand to help celebrate the inauguration of the newly expanded school was Mr. Dattaray Ware, Headmaster of the Zilla Parishad School. “The support given by BNY Mellon has helped change the perception of parents towards our schools-we have 350 children enrolled and a waiting list of over 800,” said Ware. “Students do not wish to go home and come to the school even on holidays.”