MICHAEL GUZDER VISITS CITY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS

Friday, 28 December 2012 14:07 Written by V.S DATTA (Editor , N.I.P Allahabad )

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Dubai Principal finds Allahabad changed

Michael Guzder, Principal, the The Millennium School, Dubai, is here with his wife Christine and daughter these days  to celebrate Christmas with his  mom Ms Patience Guzder and be with his sister-in-law  Margaret Francis , brother-in-law Stanley Francis and their children.It was a great pleasure meeting him the other day because I have known his parents since long.

He is the duplicate copy of his dad Minu Guzder whom  we knew very well.The last time I met Minu was when he was about to leave Allahabad. He waved out from a distance with a captivating smile. That image of his is entrenched in my mind. Michael has written several articles in the Patrika in the past, some sent from Pune(when he was there) and some from Dubai and these articles were highly appreciated too. Coming here after  several years , he says he finds  Allahabad a changed city. ’I find the roads much better now. But the city is too overcrowded and traffic jams are astounding. I recall those good old days when we could walk leisurely  in Civil Lines. But now we have to be on our guard all the time. One never knows from which side a reckless, if not drunk,  speedster may come and knock you down if you are out for a stroll’. Stanley, who was also taking part in the gossip, gave a big smile of assent.

I asked Michael about his school. He told me that several teachers from Allahabad are serving there. It is a highly prestigious school named thus as it started functioning from September 2000- at the start of the new century. I asked him for more details and wanted to know whether they have separate branches for boys and girls. The Principal revealed that The Millennium School has classes  for  both boys and girls from Kindergarten to Grade 12. ‘Do they have a separate education board in Dubai?’ I asked. He replied, ’No. This school  is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, India.  We introduced  the  CBSE - International curriculum in the grades 1 and 9 in  the academic  year     2010-11 and in the academic year 2011-12 we will do so in respect of grades 2,10 and 6’.  He added that subsequently ‘the CBSE International curriculum will  be introduced in the other grades in a phased manner.’  What about the teaching staff? I asked. He said,’We are very strict there’. He gave details about the regular inspections that are done to see how the teachers are teaching. Hence the teachers are always on their toes. ‘We have the best of staff’. He said that   the school has an extremely child-centred and child friendly ambience. Michael Guzder went on: ‘We believe that every student can achieve excellence in an atmosphere that is both encouraging and challenging. The school offers students the best resources and facilities along with the efficiency and vibrancy of an experienced teaching staff.’ ‘Stop bragging’ intervened Margaret: ‘We at the St Josephs are doing that in a far, far better manner’. Guzder said, ‘But I hear some of your boys don’t wear helmets while riding two-wheelers, that too when they are underage’. She hit back: ‘All that has been exaggerated. Our boys are among the most disciplined’. I thought this ‘Jeeja-Saali’ leg-pulling may go on so I butted in with another question: ’What about extra-curricular activities’. Promptly he said: ‘The Afternoon Self Improvement Programmme facilitates the pursuit of co curricular activities and games. Prep sessions and Remedial sessions offer academic support and ensure completion of assignments in a supervised environment’. He went on: ‘Our school transcends the confines of the classroom walls and the pages of the textbook. Children enjoy their schooling, teachers love to teach, guide and help. In fact, teachers  and  students are partners at every step’, he said looking meaningfully  and suggestively at Margaret! That was the time when wife Christine, with her perennial smile, intervened and said, ’Haven’t you talked enough? Let him enjoy our cakes’ and Stanley’s son Kayal came to say, ‘I am starting the car’s engine. We are getting late for church’.  And so the meeting ended.