Mangaluru has the country's first 'Overnight High School'

Navabharat Night High School in Karnataka's Mangaluru is India's first high school to remain open during night. The school was founded by 17-year-old Haji Khalid Muhammad in 1943, after realising that most of the people around were deprived of basic education.

Mangaluru: Navabharat Night High School in Karnataka's Mangaluru is the first high school in the country and the only one in the state to remain open during night with no fee charged from students.

The school was founded by 17-year-old Haji Khalid Muhammad in 1943, after realising that most of the people around were deprived of basic education.

Before 1964, the annual examinations were conducted by Madras Department of Education. Now, the Department of Secondary Education of Karnataka supervises the SSLC examinations.

While the school fees was initially collected by the students, it is now being paid by donors and committees of the institute. Apart from studies, the school has now begun imparting classes in Yakshagana (a traditional Indian theatre form).

"Education is given from elementary to high school and many of those who have been deprived of regular education will get a chance to learn here," a student said.

The school is being hailed by everyone in the state, which has helped in educating the poor for seven and a half decades.