Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has rebuilt five local schools and improved facilities at a further six.
BIAL, operator of the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, India, has rebuilt and transformed three government-run schools into modern facilities, and refurbished six more schools with the objective of improving infrastructure and quality of education in the area. Two more schools will be built in time for the start of the next academic year (2020-21).
Students of these schools now have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure that features computer rooms, science labs, playgrounds and libraries. In line with BIAL’s vision of sustainable development, all of the schools are powered by solar energy. Modern toilets have been provided and water purifiers installed, ensuring students have access to clean drinking water.
As well as supplying learning materials and stationery for 2,500 students, BIAL, in association with Sri Sathya Sai Annapurna Trust, provides a nutritious breakfast for more than 3,000 schoolchildren each day.
BIAL is also working with the Department of Education, Government of Karnataka to implement the Learning Enhancement Programme, which aims to recruit 100 teachers for selected government schools in Devanahalli Taluk. So far, 50 teachers have been recruited and deployed at various schools.
In 2018-19, more than 260 students benefited from the BIAL Scholarship, which was introduced to motivate talented students from districts close to the airport, and to reduce the rate of school drop-outs due to a lack of financial resources.