After spending every penny to keep students in school, Malad principal rents out lab, library to stay afloat

Mohammad Rafique Siddiqui, owner and principal of Malwani’s Holy Mother English School. Pic/Anurag Ahire

In order to ensure that 960 slum kids studying at Malwani's Holy Mother English School can continue with their studies amid the pandemic, 52-year-old principal Mohammad Rafique Siddiqui has literally used up all his savings to keep the school running. He had started the school by selling his house in 2004, but as he was not being able to keep it afloat, last month he rented out the library and science laboratory rooms on a deposit fee of Rs 5 lakh to pay the salaries of the staff and utility bills. Even though he has a physical disability, he has been working relentlessly to keep the school going and help those affected by the pandemic.

Holy Mother English School at Malwani, Malad West. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Speaking to mid-day, he said, "The school has run 18 drives to distribute 125 tonnes of dry ration since March last year. It has benefited more than 12,000 families of students and those from the neighborhood. Moreover, hygiene kits comprising masks, sanitizers, hand washes, etc were provided to the school staff and students. An entire year's school fee was waived off for 660 students attending online classes so that they don't drop out."

"I started the school by selling my house in 2004 and have been living in a rented accommodation since then. I had waived off a year's fee for 660 students taking online classes and met the school's financial needs by mortgaging my wife's jewellery worth Rs 3.5 lakh," he said. He further said, "The financial condition of the school is not good, but it has to run. In order to pay the staff salaries and other bills, I have rented out the school library and laboratory on a heavy deposit of Rs 5 lakh."

Siddiqui said that before the pandemic the school was earning around Rs 40-45 lakh yearly. However, after the lockdown as many parents lost their jobs, it was difficult for them to pay the fees. That is when the authorities concerned decided to waive it off. Last year the school did not get any money but it had to spend Rs 9.5 lakh for online classes and other expenditures. However, Siddiqui said that this year the condition is worse as the expenses have reached Rs 19 lakh.

Speaking to mid-day, Mansoor Khan, parent of three students studying at the school, said, "My kids regularly received ration kits, hygiene kits and nutrition supplements from the school throughout the pandemic. I have been out of regular work for a while now and my family survived the lockdown because of the help received from the school. The authorities even waived off an entire year's fee for online education." Another parent, Kanojia Sangeeta Vinod said, "We have a small ironing shop in Malwani. My son is in Std II and daughter in Std VII. We live in a rented house, but did not go back to our native place in Bihar because of all the help received from the school. We believe all schools should support their students."