The Belgaum Education Society completed 75 years on 2nd Feb 2000, and the Centenary Celebration was due last year itself. But due to the sudden death of both our President (Shri. Prahlad Kumar Bhagoji) and Vice-President (Shri Vinod Kulkarni), we had to postpone the function.

Seventy-six years ago, on 2nd February 1925, seven young enthusiasts decided to devote their services to the cause of education and established “Model English School”.They were :

1) Shri. R.B. Kulkarni

2) Shri. K.V. Bhandari

3) Shri. N.K. Mujumdar

4) Shri R.K. Potadar

5) Shri. V.G. Hosurkar

6) Shri. L.K. Mujumdar, and

7) Shri. V.D. Joshi

 

The School was housed in Shri. Bolmal’s Building near Kapileshwar Road, railway Crossing. The seven young teachers were encouraged, guided, and given full backing in this noble venture by six promoters who were leading lights of Belgaum Public Life. These six luminaries were:

1) Dr. H.V. Savanur

2) Shri D.V. Belvi

3) Shri. Narayanrao Joshi

4) Shri. V.G. Jigajinni

5) Shri. Balawantrao Datar

6) Dr. V. G. Nargundkar

 These Founder Fathers – 7 life members and 6 promoters established the Belgaum Education Society under the Presidentship of Shri. D.V. Belvi and this society were later registered in 1946.

 

 This small Model English School grew and developed into three big, full-fledged Schools, namely, 

1) Bandopant Kulkarni (B.K.) Model High School for Boys

2) Smt. Ushatai Gogte Girl’s High School for Girls and 

3) B.E. Society’s Pre-Primary and Primary School.

 

Following the generous donations by Smt. Laxmibai Bandopant Kulkarni for naming the Boys’ School in memory of her husband as B.K. Model High School and by Shri. Raosahab B.M. Gogte for naming the Girls’ School after his wife as Smt. Ushatai Gogte Girl’s High School.

With the sincere and sustained efforts of teachers and management over the last 76 years, these Schools have progressed and become Heritage Educational Institutions of Belgaum. Starting with Shri. Belvi as the first President, the Belgaum Education Society received the distinguished services of :

1) Shri. Bhimrao Potdar as President 

2) Shri. J.M. Sirdeshpande – as President 

3) Shri. P.K. Bhagoji 

4) Shri. Bodhrao Naik

5) Shri. Sudhakar D. Shanbhag as President, as General Secretary as General – Secretary and now as President

6) Shri. Jaydeorao Kulkarni – as Vice

7) Shri. Vinod D. Kulkarni, President, as Vice President,

 

 The B.K. Model High School was developed under the able guidance of a galaxy of hard-working Head Masters. 

1)Shri. L.K. Mujumdar, The First Head Master 

2) Shri. V.D. Joshi (1946)

3) Shri. S.B. Potdar (1947-1951)

4) Shri. K.H. Potdar (1951-1960) 

5) Shri. C.V. Ingale (1960-1970)

6) Shri. R.G. Yarguddi (1970-1973)

7) Shri. M.V. Deshpande 1973-1976)

8) Shri. H.B. Joshi (1976-1977 &1979- 1982)

9) Shri. V.H. Managoli (1977-1979) 

10) Shri. S.K. Joshi (1982-1987) 

11) Shri. V.L. Gandhade (1988-1990)

12) Shri. D.R. Kulkarni (1990-1992) 

13) Shri. A.R. Hunnargikar (1992-1993)

14 Shri. M.G. Wadappi (1993-1995) 

15) Smt. Laxmi S. Kulkarni (Since 1996) 

 

 We recall with gratitude and express our grateful thanks for the dedicated services of all those mentioned above- Seven Founder Teachers, Six Promoters, subsequent Office Bearers, past Head Masters and Teachers who have developed the Schools.

 

 With 85 students at the beginning in 1925, there was a continuous rush for admission, and the School required a more spacious building. Shri. D.V. Belvi, who was our President, generously offered his building in Patil Galli at a very nominal rent, and the School shifted to this building in 1932. The School became a full-fledged High School in 1934 and became “B.K. Model High School”.

 

 The New School Building was built on 3.75 acres of land in the Cantonment area with the help of Shri. Balawantrao Datar and Shri. Arvindrao Joshi is getting the plot and Shri. Bodhrao Naik and Shri. Rambhau Ginde, who ensured the construction of the new building. The School was shifted to this new building in 1962. This building was planned as an “E” Shaped design, but only half the work could be completed, as we did not have enough funds to complete the entire building. With the generous help from the past students, parents, and philanthropists, we now hope to complete this “E” shaped building.

 

 The B.K. Model High School was a Coeducational institution till 1967, when it was bifurcated, and a separate girls’ High School was started. This is housed in our Patil Galli building, where the B.K. Model High School was housed earlier. The Primary section of B.K. Model High School continues to be for both Girls and Boys.

 

Our Teachers are known for their discipline and devotion to duty. From the very beginning, B.K. Model High School has maintained a high standard both in studies and sports. The passing percentage in the S.S.L.C. examination has always been more than 70%. In 1997, Kumar Praveen Kammar scored 95% and stood first in the State in S.S.L.C. examination in Kannada Medium. This year, Kumar S.S. Pattar scored even higher at 96.3% and stood first in Belgaum City. In sports, especially in cricket and volleyball, B.K. Model High School has achieved competitive excellence. There are about 1000 students in the School. The demand for admission to different classes is so overwhelming that the School has to regretfully disappoint many students.

 

 Smt. Ushatai Gogte Girls’ High School was started in 1967 with VIII-X classes, while the primary section (V-VII), as mentioned earlier, continues to serve both boys and girls.

 

The firm foundation of this School was laid by the Late Shri. N.R. Deshpande, who was the first head Master (1967-1974), followed by

2) Shri. R.P. Kulkarni (1974-1976) 

3) Shri. D.V. Deshpande (1976-1981) 

4) Shri. G.B. Patil (1981-1990)

5) Shri. N.G. Kulkarni (1990-1992)

6) Smt. L.D. Madihalli (1992-1993)

7) Shri. M.G. Wadappi (1993-1993) 

8) Shri. A.R. Hunnargikar (1993-1994) 

9) Shri. N.R. Kulkarni (1994-1996) 

10) Smt. Usha P. Padki (Since 1996)

 

The Girls’ High School has also been showing excellent results in the S.S.L.C. examination, achieving a pass percentage of 80.3% in 2001. In sports as well, the School has set a record by bagging the General Championship for Girls’ Rolling Shield for 2001-2002 at the City-level Sports conducted by the Department of Education.

A separate unaided Pre-primary & Primary School was started by the Society in 1992. At present, there are about 650 students in this school. When the additional wing of B.K. Once Model High School is completed, we will be able to admit a larger number of students.

 

The School was given a sound start by the Head Master B.K. Model High School, Shri. A.R. Hunnargikar and later by:

2) Smt. L.D. Madihalli (1993-1996)

3) Smt. S.A.Nadagouda (1996-1999)

4) Smt. S.V. Galgali (1999-2001)

5) Smt. Radika R. Naik (Since 2001)

Computer Education has become so crucial for the future career of students that we have made it compulsory for students of higher classes. Following the generous help of the Rotary Club of Belgaum, there are 11 computers in B.K. Model School and 3 in Girls’ School, but there is no doubt that the Schools need m number of computers.

 

The students are at the center of all the activities of our Schools. Apart from studies, our efforts also focus on physical exercises, character building, and enabling students to develop self-confidence. The B.K. Model High School regularly holds a coaching camp every year for training in volleyball and athletic games. The School also has two cricket teams -one for boys below 14 years and the other for boys between 14-16 years. Interact Club is the junior wing of the Rotary Club of Belgaum. These Clubs have been formed in both of our High Schools. The students are also encouraged to participate in debates, drawing, and dance competitions to develop self-confidence. Through all these activities, we identify talent in specified fields and encourage students to acquire special skills.

 

The generous cooperation of the past students of our Schools and parents is the inspiration and strength for the management. The Past Students Association under the able leadership of its President, Shri. Srinivas N. Shivangi has been rendering valuable support to the Schools. We hope that Schools will make further progress with the help and guidance of the Association, and also of parents and the people of Belgaum.Our Schools are the proud heritage institutions of Belgaum. Our efforts all along have been to keep them worthy of their heritage and reputation.

 

We are now in the Twenty-First Century. The developments in science and technology have revolutionized the world order and brought about radical changes in our way of living. The educational system and institutions have to keep pace with this change. This means that not only should all the students receive computer education also the teaching methods have undergone changes and become a computerized teaching system. There has to be a well-equipped Science Hall, to date Library and new Teaching equipment. All this is feasible only if our institution has substantial finances. 

 

It is also our dream to start an English-medium school if the State Government permits us. English is now a global language. Our students will not have a wider field within our country and outside India for their career development if they are not proficient in English, besides possessing a command of subjects. We hope that we will get permission from the Government to start the English Medium School at the earliest. 

 

We have also on hand the completion of the remaining portion of the additional wing of B.K. Model High School building. Further gigantic task, namely the rebuilding of the Girls’ High School, is awaiting our action. The present building is more than 100 years old and needs to be totally rebuilt. The blue blueprint for the School with an estimated cost of about Rs. 2 crores is ready. However, we do not have funds. We hope that sooner or later, some generous-minded education enthusiasts will come forward with donations for this noble work.

 

It is in this context that we look to our wishes and hope that we will continuеto get financial and all-round support from them.