PLANNING OF PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary education is always the back bone for the multiple progress of country .After the independence India did lot of work to achieve its goal by means of formal and non-formal education .In between 1970 to 1980 Prof. T. N. Gupta the ex –Director of CBRI-Roorkee and Adviser of Government of India under the Rural and Urban Development Ministry had worked on Pre Cast Primary School Building to reduce its cast and it was a wonderful project to start classes within no time. In my opinion the biggest problem was the transportation to required site protection from damage during transportation because it was in the hands of innocent villagers .Any how near about 1990 Government of India decided for U.P.Government  had made an approach The World Bank for assistance for School Building along with School Complex and Block Resource Center buildings . On 3^rd December 1992 Mr.M. John Middleton and Mr .Eid Dip assigned me this project, after selecting  my base work from various proposals from all over India , to further develop suitable designs for Plains, Bundal Khand and Hill regions . This project had a value of Rs.360 cores.

Planning of a building is a big challenge for an architect because he has to take into account the various parameters and reactions on people and best utilization of space . The planning has to be done by keeping in mind about funds involved and time available for work to complete . A poor state like U.P. where people don’t get even two square meels, can not afford to give proper education to all . But people now realize that without education there will be no progress that without education there will be no progress hence they cut down their budget in various field and took loan from various sources of world like The World Bank to meet educational expenses . In fact education is the most important aspect of today’s society and its future progressive results . Even world famous architect  Le Corbusier designer and planner of Chandigarh , which is based on human anatomy and most modern city of the world has personified education with the right hand of human body in sector no. 14 and  industrial area in sector no. 26 as left hand for the better and progressive results in future .

A designer has to consider local materials and labors as for as possible to achieve economy in planning to get maximum advantages . I worked on project with all above considerations for our budding children of the state who will be the pillars of our country’s  success .

Education is the fundamental right of every child therefore there must be sufficient infrastructure and proper arrangements within approachable distance because it is as important as the clean air and excellent environment for health . Since, population is increasing day by day therefore it is prime duty of country to develop more and more such points of education. This primary education will be always a back bone in future of the country . This will be always the base education for higher education of the man who will be as the pillar of prosperity of the country . Education makes the man perfect and provide strong future , strong security and confidence to every citizen. It also helps to develop mental and physical aspects of man .

IMPORTANCE     OF     PRIMARY     EDUCATION

Environment of educational campus is an important factor as a complement to education so one must provide natural environment at least in India as it was important in our ancient period . As environment in Gurkul System of Education was quite popular –in which the child was away from his home and was studying by living with nature which was providing him better concentration of mind and thoughts. Therefore today at least our educational centers must have a proper geographical conditions and environment must be free from fear and pollution . Thus landscape must be given due importance and nature may prove as the best teacher for children to learn by touching , realizing , seeing and getting a sense of belongingness for developing affections with others. People living in village have their shelters and houses as an element of nature . landscape is developed near by shelter is a biggest friend of man to provide neat and clean environment and use to provide protection from various climatic conditions . So planning should not be as a watertight compartment type but there must be flow of space and planning must be based on ORGANIC   GROWTH   base planning .

The primary education may be divided in two parts i.e. first classroom teaching with the help of books and copies and second part – outside the class room teaching with the help of nature and its objects and elements  . The various multicolor flowers , leaves , plants and trees having forms ,shapes and multi color flowers will act as a silent teacher for our kids and children to learn. They will learn various aspects of life from these elements of landscape by seeing .touching and realizing . There must be sufficient open  a space adjacent to each class room so that the children may get some chance to do some cultivation work which may give them a feeling of belongingness . In other words one can  say  that this type of planning is based on organic growth .The out door activities for learning by means of working , group games or arrangements of various elements in play field is also very important part of planning to create a healthy environment and safety against any  accident.

Generally these schools are running in day time during winter. In morning during summer and in the worst summer i.e. May and June these schools have summer vacations. But even than these schools have summer vacations . But even than college can run in shifts to achieve its maximum efficiency or even in second shift vocational courses can run to develop more confidence and self dependability in young one .

THEME

It is true that a child is the father of man who is responsible for future development of progress and growth of total country. So, for proper growth of such child primary school education will be the foundation for child and country. Therefore the planning of primary –school must govern with its functional as well as aesthetic aspects. At the same time this planning must keep space with vast, rapid changes in teaching techniques. There are few more challenging demands on architectural ingenuity than those made by the special needs of modern schools. Not only in United states but even in India the majority of elementary and secondary schools with million pupils are supported to get education by public funds. Economy conscious school-managements call for building designs which combine maximum functional value and utilization of available space with flexibility and a minimum of outlay. To meet these requirements without sacrifice of aesthetic considerations is the architect’s dilemma. But the challenge is being successfully met and a number of recently constructed school buildings are remarkable for the bold and effective innovations which have being introduced by architect in designing these structures.

A prime need of teaching system is space for expanding, multifarious activities of the modern school. Now days it is must to make use for provision for education ranging from the primary school to junior college including class room teaching, recreational aids as television in class room, laboratories. Auditoriums, i.e. learning by play. Since the public pays for these teaching units and their maintenance therefore they expect same more facilities such as school hall, swimming pool, library may be available for the use of whole community during holidays or after school hours. Today space is very expansive therefore all planning of class room, auditoriums, common halls etc. must be designed for multiple purposes so that different functional spaces may be combined to get a larger area to meet other school activities or public demands. This can be done with some flexible and adjustable partitions or more than one function can be held without disturbance and some time while reading there must be some degree of privacy is must. Some time motion-picture, different lights and shades are also a part of teachings.

Another major considerations for planning of school building are natural and artificial lighting , air flow and ventilation, acoustics and safe guards against adverse weather or natural actions are must be considered . A glass wall or large windows over smaller windows make for improved lighting and help to bring sunshine into the room but glare of direct sun light must be avoided in Indian conditions. Sliding walls or a larger doors or large door may help to get flow of space and partially covered and partially open area for different methods of teachings. Corridors are also an important element for school planning which may hold multifarious activities of children.

The outdoor activities for learning by means of working, group games or arrangements of various elements in play field is also very important part of planning to create a healthy environment and safety against any accident.

The general layout of school campus is as important as the class room. It must govern with topography and if there is any unusual geography feature then must be carefully studied and architect must have the best possible use of space and harmonizing the building with natural landscape. For example a hilly land will influence the pattern and design where landscape will help in total.