Tiruchirappalli: Viscountess Goschen Government Girls (Muslim) Higher Secondary School located at the East Boulevard Road in Tharanallur in Tiruchi stands as a symbol of Muslim women empowerment through education. With over a century of service, the school is well-known in the area for its antiquity and amazing contribution to the education of Muslim girls, particularly from the disadvantaged sections of the society.
Started way back in 1910 by the British government to cater to the educational needs of Muslim girls, the school has witnessed both highs and lows in its chequered history. Known also as Bandhekana school and Goscha school among the common people, the school teaches Urdu as a compulsory subject in standards I to VI and follows the three-language formula in standards VI to XII.
During its heyday, the school was very popular among the Muslims who considered it a great privilege to send their daughters and granddaughters to this glorious institution. But over the years, the school fell on bad times. The downfall was so grim that in 2005 there were only two girl students in the school.
The mushrooming growth of English medium schools spurred by the growing belief among the people that only the knowledge of English guaranteed progress in career and the waning interest in learning Urdu has been attributed to the dwindling popularity of the school. However, thanks to the coordinated efforts made by the teachers and the members of the parent-teacher association, the closure threat to the school vanished and the institution was put back on its feet.
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The efforts made by all stake-holders started paying off when the institution was upgraded to the higher secondary school and the strength of the girl students also started increasing again. Now there are 512 students learning in the school which, however, has buildings dating back to over a century ago. So, the government must provide all amenities required for the school, said headmistress Indirani.
There are only two places in Tamil Nadu where this school has been functioning - Tiruchi and Chennai. It is a wish of the people that the Viscountess Goschen Government Girls (Muslim) Higher Secondary School, which has provided education to generation after generation, being the pride of Tiruchi, must continue its glorious service.
