KARACHI, Oct 17: SMB Fatima Jinnah School has been brought on a par with some of the best private schools in the city.

Following the issuance of a notification by the Sindh government, the school was adopted by the Zindagi Trust and Bookgroup in May 2007, says a press release issued by the Trust on Thursday. Since then, a proper infrastructure has been provided and new textbooks have been introduced in the school where education is completely free of cost.

The school that prior to its adoption was in shabby condition now wears a complete new look. This is evident from the response of parents who are opting to remove their children from private schools and put them in this government school. Having enrolled 3,600 students so far, the school has been provided with a multi-purpose conference room, a well-equipped computer laboratory, an art room and other facilities such as a daycare centre for the schoolchildren.

A two-pronged strategy was employed to completely turn around this school -- by undertaking civil works and bringing academic/ administrative changes. The objective was to set a standard that would become the norm for all government schools, the press release says.

To help ensure better academic and healthy environment at the school, various grills that used to give the impression of a juvenile prison have been done away with, stray animals have been removed from the premises and wedding parties on school grounds have been banned. In addition, a parking lot and a running track/ sports ground have been provided and a reception area has been constructed with an emphasis on aesthetic appeal. Besides, photocopiers, computers and filing cabinets have been installed for preservation of student records and to ensure smooth administrative function.

Class conditions have been drastically improved with blackboards made wall-to-wall. Everyday after school, a proper cleaning staff cleans the entire school campus from bathrooms and classes to corridors and grounds.

Moreover, new sewage lines have been laid, a generator has been installed that can support the entire computer lab and a health room has been set up where students go for regular check-ups, says the press release.

A students body has been formed which is elected by the students themselves through a well-organized poll-booth method. In addition, students now publish a monthly newspaper that highlights activities in the school as well as essays/ artwork of the students.

According to the release, Zindagi Trust and Bookgroup believe that the sole purpose of a school is to help a child realise his/ her talents and then help them improve and perfect that talent. In accordance with this philosophy, SMB Fatima Jinnah now offers a wide range of subjects ranging from mathematics, English, science and Islamiat to basketball, taekwondo, rollerblading, art and even rowing.