Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (EP)
Mangalore, Aug 1: The teachers of a government school at Ullal on Thursday July 31 made a commendable effort to bring back a dropout back to school.
A seventh standard student of Hoohakuvakallu Government Upgraded Higher Primary School here had failed in his final exams as he had been irregular to school, and hence was not promoted to the next class. He then refused to come to school as he felt ashamed of sitting among students who were younger to him.
The department of public instruction, Central Resource Center, Bantwal and Group Resource Center Hoohakuvakallu held an awareness programme under Sarva Shikshana Abhiyan and took out a unique rally along with presenting a street play from Hoohakuvakallu junction to Balepuni panchayat office.
It is said that Balepuni resident Sattar had come to school only on the school reopening day and then remained absent throughout. As he had not come to classes regularly, the teachers could not promote him to the next class. He once again stopped coming to school saying that he felt ashamed to sit in the same class as his juniors.
The headmistress and teachers went to his house and urged the parents to send him to school, but he refused.
On Thursday, as per government circular regarding enrolment of children to schools, the teachers went to his house in the rally, flanked with a music band, but Sattar ran away on seeing them. Once again, the teachers and children urged his parents to send Sattar to school.
As Sattar was hesitatant to return to the same school, his parents agreed to send him to another school after obtaining transfer certificate. Hence, the 3-km walk by the students and teachers to the house of the boy amid all the slush and the rain was finally fruitful.
In the rally that started in the school, grama panchayat president Girish Jogi, SDMC president Ismail, members Aboobacker Thotal, Vaman Naik, Poornashree, Bi Fathima, businessman Ramesh Shenava, former SDMC president Deranna Devadiga, headmistress Sharada and other teachers were present.