Dev Deepak Sharma, PMD Academy, Lucknow, UP
Family Legacy
Dev Deepak Sharma, the principal of PMD School, Lucknow, UP developed his passion for teaching from an early age thanks to his family background. His father was also a principal, and his grandfather was a headmaster at a local school in Lucknow. For Dev, education is not just a profession but a mission to uplift and empower children, driving meaningful societal change.
“When we started PMD School, we had just 212 students, but soon, we faced challenges, and the number dropped to 185. Today, we proudly serve over 1,000 students, and the numbers are still growing,” he shared proudly.
Foundation of PMD School
The school was founded with the idea that education should be accessible to all children, regardless of their family’s financial background. He has always focused on delivering high-quality education while supporting families facing financial difficulties. Each year, the school admits 15–20 students from marginalized backgrounds, adjusting fees based on their parents’ ability to pay. “If a child is determined and shows potential, fees don’t matter. He tells parents, “Pay what you can; if not, we’ll handle it. Let the child study.”
This inclusivity is shown when many families face job losses or salary cuts. Many times, the school even reduced fees by 50%–75% and, in some cases, offered free education, ensuring no child missed learning due to financial hardships.
Bringing a change through Varthana
To support his dreams, Dev learned about Varthana from “Roshan Ji”. He shared, “Varthana has been instrumental in upgrading the school’s facilities and accommodating its growing student population.” he added, “Roshan Ji introduced us to Varthana and explained how their loans could help improve our infrastructure and provide essential facilities. With their support, we even secured funding for KYAN, an advanced teaching aid.”
Even though classrooms now have basic amenities, Dev remains committed to further improvements, including better windows, gates, and interiors. “Our immediate focus is to enhance our current branch, expand to the college level, and open a new branch to meet the rising demand for admissions,” he added. The school currently enrolled more than 1,038 students but it plans to grow to 1,300. His vision is to expand the school to the college level and register the school with the CBSE board. While the current space can accommodate 1,300 students, the rising demand underscores the urgent need for a new branch.
Conclusion
Dev envisions a bright future for PMD School. Ending the conversation, he proudly shared “PMD provides quality education to every child, regardless of financial challenges, and not only educates but also inspires.” He added, “Varthana’s support has enabled us to enhance our offerings and uphold our mission of delivering quality education under any circumstances.”
As PMD School continues to flourish, Dev’s commitment to education and community empowerment will leave a lasting legacy, inspiring generations of students. His story is one of resilience, generosity, and a steadfast belief in education’s transformative power.
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