Sainik School, Balachadi

Sainik school Balachadi is one of 20 Sainik Schools in India located in Gujarat. It is an English medium, residential school for boys providing public school education with a military bias up to 10+2 stage as per the Central Board of Secondary Education. The school of Gujarat was started in 1961 at Jamnagar. It was established in the two blocks of Irwin hospital. To provide better facilities, the institution was shifted to its present location at Balachadi. Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Prime Minister of India, presented the school its colours on 7 Mar 1965.

History

The 300 acre campus of the Sainik School includes the old campsite for Polish refugee children of World War II, built by K. S. Digvijaysinhji (‘Jam Saheb), Maharaja of Nawanagar in 1942, his summer house is nearby.^[1][2]

Mission

The scheme to establish Sainik schools was introduced in 1961 with the primary aim of preparing boys academically, physically and mentally for entry into the National Defence Academy and Defence Forces.

The objectives of the scheme are:

• To remove regional feelings in the officer cadre of the defence services.
• To develop qualities of body, mind and character which will enable young boys to become good and useful citizens.
• To bring public school education within the reach of the common man.
• To prepare those who fail to make it to the National Defence Academy, Defence Forces, for other walks of life.

Activities

Outdoor games include football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, cricket, badminton, tennis, and squash. Inter house competitions in all these events are organized, and athletic competitions (track and field) are held.

Club activities include Art Club, Craft Club, Story - telling Club, Physics Club, Chemistry Club, Bio Club, Bird Watching Club, Computer Club and Trekking Club.

The school encourages cadets to participate in inter-school competitions, in debates, declamation, quiz competitions, essay writing, poetry composing, short story writing, drawing and painting and all sports and games events.

The school sends a large number of cadets to attend camps (NCC and others) organized around the country.

The Literary Club English and Hindi organizes the inter-house competitions in declamation, debate, essay writing, poetry, recitation, spelling competition, science quiz, general quiz, weekly news analysis, and group discussions.

There are tours to NDA, IMA and defence establishments in Bombay, Cochin, Bangalore, Madras, and Hyderabad, educational tour to historical places, cycle expedition for class IX, and a trekking expedition.

School routine

Day starts with morning PT/parade under the guidance of PT instructors from the Army Physical Training Corps/NCC Instructors. This, followed by a wash and change and the breakfast. Classes begin at 0830 hrs. Classes run up to 1330 hrs with two short intervals in the first of which cadets are given light refreshments, served centrally. After the classes, they go for lunch.

The time between 1400 and 1700 hrs is used for academically weak students to go for their remedial classes while others do homework, engage in some club activities, pursue hobbies, ready their kit, or garden.

There are evening games outdoor from 1700 to 1800 hrs. Evening prep gives the cadets sufficient time to do their homework and clear their doubts. Dinner is at 2030 hrs.

National Cadet Crops

All the boys are enrolled into the NCC and follow a combined syllabus of the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force). The school possesses a full fledged NCC company.

Admission

The scheme of entrance comprises two parts: the Written Exam and the Medical Exam with Interview. Candidate who qualify in the Written exam will be called for Medical/interview.

Notable alumni

List of Balachadians who has joined National Defence Academy, Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, their ranks as of now, year of joining and their Regiment.

Notable alumni

List of Balachadians:

See also

• Sainik School
• Boarding School
• List of boarding schools
• Military Academy

References

External links

• Official website of Sainik School, Balachadi
• Sainik School, Balachadi at wikimapia
• Balachadi Sainik School events

Coordinates: 22°35′53″N 70°12′29″E / 22.598°N 70.208°E / 22.598; 70.208