interview

S

hriniwasa Bagarka Junior

College is the only aided

independent college in

Maharashtra, which is neither

attached to a school nor a college.

Founded in memory of veteran

social worker and educationist

Shri Shrinivasa Bagarka, the

Junior College is managed by

Shri Rajasthani Seva Sangh,

a registered Public Trust, in

Andheri East, Mumbai. As part

of an outreach programme, THE

TEENAGER TODAY met with Dr

Vanashri Valecha, the Education

Director of the College, to learn

about the pioneering Institution.

Excerpts from the brief chat with

her.

Good morning, Madam. Please tell

us something about the early years

of your College.

Shrinivasa Bagarka Junior College

and its parent organization

Shri Rajasthani Seva Sangh was

established in the early sixties

to make higher education easily

available and accessible to those

who are deprived of it, and

to provide an object-oriented

molecular education with emphasis

on practical knowledge.

Tell us more about the vision and

mission of the college.

Gone are the days when being

good at one thing was enough. So,

to address this trend in education,

we have introduced over a hundred

skill development courses, making

them available on the campus. To

enhance the students’ language

skills, we have special language

sessions in English and Sanskrit.

There are also special classes on

banking transactions, creative

writing, kitchen gardening and

many more. A 12-hour compulsory

workshop, Mission Udaan, helps our

students to set goals, and make a

roadmap to achieve these goals.

Does the college insist on

attendance of the students, which

is often taken for granted in

colleges, these days?

Very much. Attendance is of

paramount importance to us. We

have an automated tracking system,

where parents can get the report of

every lecture on their smart phones.

Is there an efficient parent-teacher

association in the college?

Yes. Moreover, parents are invited

to the college during the first week

of the college opening to discuss

about the students’ goals, and get

the lowdown about what a student

can expect from the college.

What makes your college different

from other colleges in the State?

We don’t concentrate only on

educational growth, but give

equal importance to ensure that

our students become all-rounders

to meet the demands of today’s

competitive business standards.

With this mind, we provide

additional practical knowledge

in all subjects, even more than

what the students choose. This

makes Shrinivasa Bagarka College

different from others!