Gandhi Ashram is a minority institution although we have not formally applied for minority status certification. The Jesuit Provincial of Darjeeling Province is the president of the Fonder Body. The school has managing committee, comprising nine board members, that meets twice year. For a better administration and functioning the school has recently been registered as Kolvenbach Social Educational Welfare Society under the West Bengal Registration of Societies Act, 1961.

After Fr Mc Guire's untimely death on August 15, 2005, the date of India's independence, his noble mission continues with the same degree of enthusiasm and dedication under the leadership of the current director, Santy Mathew SJ. We are passing through such a period which necessarily invites us to look beyond with hope - it's a time for future planning and development. The possibilities for our work seem to be boundless, encouragement enough for us to dare to dream the impossible dream

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FINANCIAL MATTERS

Gandhi Ashram is a charitable institution and the students are not charged any tuition fees, or fees for books and stationery. All of the educational expenses of our students studying in other schools and universities, including the cost of boarding, books, uniform, and of basic medical care, are also met by Gandhi Ashram. As most of them belong to the first generation going to high school and beyond it is important that we support them to pursue their studies till they have a career and can come into their own. So far the number of students has been relatively small that we have been able to keep up to the challenges. There is no source of income other than what comes to us from the generosity of good willed people. What is worrying us the most is the uncertain and often the unpredictable financial situation.

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MUSIC TRAINERS FROM GERMANY

For the past few years, Gandhi Ashram has been hosting young students from Germany who reside at the school for an extended period of about 6-10 months. These students bring a wealth of musical knowledge and skills, offering individual and group lessons in violin and cello. In addition to teaching, they contribute by restoring and repairing old instruments, helping to preserve the school's musical heritage. Their presence enriches the cultural exchange, fostering strong bonds between the students and the local community, while also enhancing the overall music education experience at the Ashram.

ADMISSION

Admission policies include identifying the most needy village children of Tashiding block; and offering them an education that promotes creative learning. The uniqueness of the present system needs to be maintained and enhanced, to be in the service of the poorest.

ACADEMICS

The school follows West Bengal( Madhyamik) Board with the medium of instruction being English. Individual attention is given to the students in the classrooms and supervised study hours are conducted after the regular class hours. Friday afternoons are devoted exclusively to group activities like art work, creative writing, choir, sports and more music.

HEALTH CARE

An infirmary provides basic health care for the children and the nearby communities. A local doctor from the State Health Care Services is available for consultancy on Thursdays. The school periodically organizes health camps with the support of other organizations like the Greater Lion's Club of Siliguri and the Kalimpong Red Cross Society.

INVOLVEMENT OF THE PARENTS

Most of our parents are illiterate or poorly educated. Often our first task is to educate the parents through meetings with them. The parents do not get much time to spend with their children and take care of them. So at Gandhi Ashram we need to do a lot of parenting. We try our best to make Gandhi Ashram a home. Although the parents cannot contribute monetarily they have been willing to throw in their mite in ways that are possible, eg giving us vegetables, working on the campus, etc.

FUTURE CHALLENGES AND PLANS

Grow the school by offering new courses and using modern technology. Encourage creativity while balancing traditional and digital music learning. Stay ahead by adapting to trends and building a skilled teaching team.

ENDOWMENT PLANS:

For the continued running of the school and to make it self-reliant, funds are required to set up a corpus. The interest generated from these funds will be utilized to bear all the educational and other expenses such as, building construction and maintenance, library, sports, computer; and science equipment, stationery, as well as teachers' salaries and meals.

UPGRADATION TO CLASS 10 AND BEYOND:

Presently, the school goes up to class 8, requiring the administration to seek admission for its students in other private schools in Kalimpong. The number of students is expected to rise dramatically in the near future, and in order to accommodate their needs, the school will have to build its infrastructure for offering classes up to class 10 and beyond, which means the school will have to abide by the regulations of the board it is affiliated to in terms of a qualified teaching faculty, salary scales, and the academic curriculum. Without such expansion, the school will have to face the added burden of paying fees for tuition and admission, uniform, activity, sports gear, stationery and transport, etc. for students who seek admission in these other schools.

EXPANSION OF THE MUSIC PROGRAM

We plan the introduction of other instruments especially the Indian musical instruments, and of dance and vocal training. Combining these different art forms will enhance the existing uniqueness of the school's music programme. The school has only one music hall with poor acoustics. There are no additional rooms for music classes and practice. With the number of students increasing every year, there is an immediate need for additional space for music lessons.