Otten School Well Project

32-D9001 India: Otten School Well Project.  With over 1200 registered students from the predominantly muslim community of Wandoor in Kerala, India, the Otten English School provides a Christian witness and excellence in education, K-12.  Goal: $10,400

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OTTEN ENGLISH SCHOOL, WANDOOR, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA

Otten English School was established in the year 1987 in honour of Rev. Henry J. Otten, an ideal LCMS Missionary who rendered his remarkable services in this Muslim dominated region. Rev. Otten and his wife, Mary Esther Otten manifested Christian love and passion and witnessed Christ through their unparallel dedicated services for more than three decades in this less developed region of India.

Otten English School is the only one Senior Secondary School (K-12 School) at Wandoor following CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) curriculum. There are four divisions or categories in Otten School namely: Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary. Up to Secondary level, the school follows C.C.E.(Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation) which emphasizes on the development of students' inherent talents. Being an English Medium School, Otten School gets the advantage of outreach to International Education systems and cultural heritage.

Arts Festival, Sports meet, Christmas Celebration, Onam (Harvest Festival) celebration, are special occasions in an academic year. Various club activities also are carried out. Excursions and study tours are also being conducted separately for Juniors & Seniors. These occasions help the students to bring out their hidden talents and prove their mettle. Of all the celebrations organized in the school, Christmas functions are the best occasions to proclaim Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for our salvation.

During the teaching/learning process the school tries to keep discipline and order as well as maintains a Christian atmosphere in the school all through the day. Morning Prayer service for teachers at 9.30 am, a common prayer for students at 9.45, lunch time thanksgiving prayer and Fridays Bible classes for voluntary students, are some of the Christian activities carried out in Otten School. Christian leaflets and publications are also placed in the school library to out-reach the tender minds towards Christianity and the salvation it proclaims. On Saturdays there is a Bible study class for the Helpers. All these activities help to generate awareness among the school community, staff as well as students alike.

Otten School which was started as a Kindergarten school with 19 students and 2 teachers has now grown into a K-12 school having 1279 students and 60 teachers. The enrollment to the school increases every year and the school faces acute shortage of class-rooms and other facilities.

Otten School is governed by Otten Memorial Charitable Trust under the umbrella of IELC. The trust consists of 7 trustees. The present trustees are: Dr. Alice Brauer (Permanent Trustee and Chair Person), Rev. K.K. ALavi (Manager), Mr. D. Appukuttan (Permanent Trustee), Mr. C.R. George (Permanent Trustee), Mr. Joy Varghese (Secretary) and Mr. Rajendran (Treasurer)

The basic aim of the school is to mould useful future citizens so as to glorify and cherish the love of Christ. God almighty guides and leads Otten School as a model Christian Institution in this remote region of India. We thank God for providing opportunities to manifest the love of Christ through education.

Otten School which was started as a Kindergarten school with 19 students and 2 teachers has now grown into a K-12 school having 1279 students and 60 teachers. The enrollment to the school increases every year and the school faces acute shortage of class-rooms and other facilities.