A pillar of women’s education in the city

Montessori Group of Educational Institutions in the city is one of the few institutions that have turned this ‘Sahara of Education’ into a hub of education. Interestingly, the Montessori Group has dedicated itself for the empowerment of women through education since 1955. The institution is set for its golden jubilee celebrations today, with a gathering of most of its old students.

Dr V Koteswaramma, who founded the group, started a small school in the city in 1955 to promote the Montessori method of teaching where learning is made easy for children through participation. She had decided to dedicate the school to promote women literacy and thus help in their empowerment. A teacher, speaker, organiser and above all a visionary looking for women empowerment, Dr Koteswaramma developed the institutions over the years. She stood like a rock against every odd and kept education at the affordable price at a time when education, particularly in the private sector, is considered a profitable business.

The success of the school made her take a step ahead in 1972 when she started the Montessori Junior College and subsequently a degree college in the same year. The expansion continued with Montessori College of Education for Women in 1984, PG College for Women in 1986, Montessori College of Law for Women in 1987, Montessori Institute of Medical Sciences and College of Physiotherapy in 1999, College of Pharmacy in 2007 and College of Engineering in 2008. She added several courses in these colleges in the successive years. Today, the institutions have courses like Fashion Technology, MBA, MCA, Microbiology, Bio Chemistry and many more, all for women.

Every week, she has been holding awareness classes outside the classroom for both students and teachers to make them stand for themselves. She has turned her dream of making education available for women into reality in the last 50 years. The institutions have sent several of its old students to greater heights over the years. The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, YS Chowdary, is one of its proud old students.

“The Montessori Group of Educational Institutions is what I wanted to give to the society. I have tried my best to provide education to women and help in their empowerment. I feel I am successful to that extent,” adds Dr Koteswaramma proudly, who awaits the turn of the institution’s golden jubilee.

By: D Gopi