Sainik School, Ghorakhal

Sainik School, Ghorakhal is a Sainik School (military school) established by the Sainik Schools Society in 1966. It is located in the midst of the serene Beauty of the Great Himalayas at Ghorakhal, 4 Kilometers next to the town of Bhowali, in Nainital district of the state of Uttarakhand, India. The school prepares its students academically, physically and psychologically for efficient handling of whatever awaits them in the outside world at the end of their schooling. Another one of its principle purposes is to impart public school education to its students at affordable expenses, which is fulfilled by dividing the fee structure based solely upon the financial latitude of the student's guardians along with their own academic performance. For the past five decades, the institute has been credited with providing top servicemen and upstanding citizens to the country.

Along with its 24 sibling institutes scattered across the nation, the school has been termed as one of the principle institutes to march the youth towards a better future. A leading magazine article put the school at 12th place among top twenty boarding schools in India.

Background

Sainik School, Ghorakhal was established on 21 March 1966. The school was built on the 500 Acre Ghorakhal Estate of the then Nawab of Rampur, near Bhowali in Nainital District. The estate has flourished to a great extent since its undertaking, owing to the support of the State government and the Ministry of Defense. It was one of the first Sainik Schools to be built.

Campus

The school is situated at an altitude of about 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above sea level amid the idyllic surroundings of the Kumaon Hills. It is 4 km from Bhowali and has the temple of Golu Devta. The school is for boys between the ages of 10 and 18 years. The school started with 60 students allocated to any one of the first houses to be incorporated, Singh and Kesari at the beginning, and a third, Kumaon House, a little later. A new house, Shiwalik, was built in 2000. Another new house, named Garhwal, was institutionalized in 2010. There is also a Junior holding house, a Senior holding house and a third house for the freshmen.

The first Principal was Wg Cdr. Jaimal Singh, the first Registrar Sqd Ldr. P N Khanna and the first Head Master Major T C Mehta. Among the first teaching staff were Mr Ramesh Chandra Srivastava (Dept. of History), Mr Vaidya Bhushan Pant (Table Tennis and Dept. of English Language), Mr Om Parkash Gupta (Dept. of Mathematics), Mr Noor Mohammed (NCC/Arts and Craft) who was fond of hunting in the forest hills around the school as well, Mr B.C. Pande (Dept. of Hindi Language) and Mr M C Pande with the Dept of English Language. Mr K S Chhikara was the first Physical Training instructor who with his hard work and earlier career in Indian Navy looked after all the sporting and physical activities, Mr Chhikara was well known around the campus for the moral lectures he used to give every Saturday morning about the practical and future life of the baby and budding military officers.

Extracurricular activities

The school's extra curricular activities includes school band, debate competitions, gardening, photography, music and drama classes and many more, which help the cadets to improve their personality

Admission

Boys are admitted to Class Six only from the age of ten to eleven. An All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is held annually, usually in February. There is a 25% quota for defence candidates, and 15% and 7.5% respectively to SC and ST candidates. The rest of the boys come from General category. The school terms are from 1 April to 31 March.

Since 1993, a small number of candidates are also admitted in Class IX.

Vacations

Cadets are provided with 70 days official vacations. During winter (mid December to January end), Summer (after the annual function celebration i.e. last may for around 20 days) and Diwali break, for a week.

The ssgk garden

Scholarship

The State Government awards scholarships on merit- cum-means basis. In the case of those getting full scholarship, fees in full, together with clothing and money are paid by the Government. Those getting part scholarships have to pay the balance themselves.

The following types of scholarship schemes are in operation on means-cum-merit basis:

a. Defence Scholarships b. State Scholarships according to the parent’s income

Management

The Sainik Schools are managed by a Society which is registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860). A Board of Governors that functions under the Chairmanship of the Defence Minister, is the Chief Executive Body of the Sainik Schools Society. The Board of Governors meets at least once a year. The school has a Local Board of Administration for overseeing the functioning of the school and its finances.

The Chief Minister or the Education Minister of the state are among the members of the Board of Governors. An officer of the Ministry of Defence is nominated to supervise and co-ordinate the functioning of the school and functions as the Honorary Secretary of the Sainik Schools Society. The Honorary Secretary is assisted by officers and staff of the Ministry of Defence. This includes two inspecting officers of the rank of Colonel or equivalent.

At present the Headmaster is Squadron Leader Sreeprakash, a highly qualified and motivated Air force Officer who is the first officer below the Lt Col rank to hold the post.It is said that he runs and trains with the cadets and takes part in all the activities and most of the cadets consider him as their role model.

Location

The school is 4 km from Bhowali and 16 km from Nainital. Kathgodam is the nearest railhead (terminus), which is 40 km away. The nearest airport is Pant Nagar 70 km away. A direct bus from Delhi to Nainital takes 10 hours. The nearest Railway Station Kathgodam is 36 km from the school. Although the school has a helipad of its own.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sainik School, Ghorakhal.

• Official website