Common class for HIV+, other kids at this ZP school

The Zilla Parishad (ZP) No 2 School located in Matalwadi has taken the first revolutionary step towards the edification of HIV positive children. In this school, HIV positive children will study side-by-side with the others

Lord god made them all: Children from the ZP School in Matalwadi

The revolutionary decision was taken by Professor Savita Dagade, president of the Pune Zilla Parishad. The school officially started from October 1, 2010. To begin with the school has two full-time teachers and two more will join in the next academic year. "Now the entire school will be run by the ZP," said Shirish Lavate, who took the initiative with his wife Ujjwala in starting the school with the help of the Pune Zilla Parishad.

The Lavate couple had also opened a school, Manavya, for HIV positive children in 1997. The initiative to start this school was taken by late Vijay Lavate, Shirish's mother.

"My mother's dream has become a reality as the children will officially get the benefit of studying in a government-recognised school and can lead a better life," said Shirish. "These children are getting quality education like others their age."

Currently, the Zilla Parishad school takes classes till standard VII and has 45 children. Five students appearing for SSC are studying in Manavya.u00a0

"These children will get vocational training to earn their livelihood," said Ujjwala. In fact, the first batch of five SSC passouts has already taken admissions to colleges in the city and some are doing vocational training courses in air-conditioning, refrigerator repairing and even fashion designing.

Dagade said the school was a requirement and the decision was taken in the board meeting with majority support. "We are ready to start and fund schools for HIV positive children in any other area in the Pune district," she said.