Deekshith D V
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (DV)
Beltangady, Jul 24: Residents of Arambody village are afraid to send their children to school as the roof of the institution is in a pathetic condition. The wood of the roof is hollowed by termites and is likely to collapse anytime. Vessels have been placed to collect water that leaks through the tiles. A few days ago, the tiles on the roof of the front veranda collapsed. This is the depressing situation of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School at Arambody in Beltangady taluk.
Students have no classrooms, or even proper benches or desks. The school roof has completely deteriorated and due to this, teachers have shifted the students to an adjacent building. Presently, students of classes 7th, 8th, and 4th are in one room, while students of class 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are in another room, and due to space contraints school teachers have converted the school office into a classroom for students of classes 5th and 6th. As there are students of various classes in a single room, teachers are finding it difficult to take up lessons.
Praneeth, a social activist, said, "The condition of the school is so pathetic. Fortunately, the roof tiles collapsed during the night and not during school hours. What if it had happened during school hours? We have brought this issue to the notice of the block education officer several times, but there is no response. More than 200 students used to come to this school. Now the number has reduced to 90. Due to this pathetic condition, parents are not willing to admit their wards to this school. Instead, they take loans and admit their children to private schools. Though it has been brought to the notice of officers, no action has been taken."
The villagers also alleged that despite this incident being brought to the notice of MLA Vasanth Bangera repeatedly, no adequate measures have been taken.
ZP member Chandrakala said that she has informed the MLA about the condition of the school, but there was no positive response.
Umesh, a member of old students’ association, said, “Though the villagers have given a memorandum to the educational officers, no steps have been taken to repair the school. Parents say they fear to send their children to the school. The roof is in a very dangerous condition and may collapse anytime.”
The locals also said that the classrooms are very congested and teachers cannot conduct class there. There are no benches and desks for students and they have to sit on the floor.
Villagers also questioned how teachers could teach students of three classes in one room and how the students could concentrate in such a situation.
School headmaster Shivananda said, "From the past four years, we have been bringing this to the notice of officers concerned, MLAs, ZP and taluk panchayat members, but no adequate measures have been taken. Now, the school roof is in a very bad state and hence, we shifted the students to another building which had two classrooms and one office. We even turned the office room into a classroom for 5th and 6th standards. Though we desperately pleaded about the condition, no remedial measures have been taken. Presently, it is very difficult to conduct classes. I have also submitted the estimation report to the DC."
The locals also complained that though villagers have met the BEO several times over the past three years, the officer has not even visited the school.