Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (PH)

Udupi, Nov 12: School is the place where knowledge is imparted from gurus and the knowledge gets propagated into hundreds of minds and get transformed into different innovations in future. Knowing the value of education, the Indian Government focuses on free and compulsory primary education for all. Akshara Dasoha and many other schemes are brought up by the government to provide education to all the children. Irrespective of these schemes and benefits, some students still find it difficult to get into the school. One such problem is reported in UBMC School, Padoor.

UBMC School Padoor is 150 years old. Scores of students have passed out from this school and what remains in their mind is the memory of their time spent in the UBMC school of Padoor. UBMC School was founded on 1862. It is one of the very few schools in Udupi district which has been still providing quality education for the students since a century. There is a saying that ‘Tomorrow’s future lies in Today’s Classroom’. But students of UBMC Padoor are finding difficulties to find their way to the classroom.

ISPRL (Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited) plant has come up just besides the UBMC shool. From the time ISPRL has started its operations, all the roads are blocked and public entry is prohibited. Only one road is available and it is too far from the residential area. The only appointed government teacher, the headmistress of the school Shaily Prema Kumari states that the number of students has decreased since the ISPRL plant came up in Padoor.

Initially the roads were closed by ISPRL and blasts took place in Padoor premises. During the SKC project, project vehicles were provided for school students by the ISPRL management as mode of transportation. Around Rs 7,000 were given by the ISPRL and the rest Rs 3,000 was borne by the school management. But from the past six years, even the transportation facility is stopped and school management is bearing the cost of transportation of students of the school, through donors, which comes up to Rs10, 000. Students are commuting to school in auto rickshaws with two trips each in the morning and evening. Transportation has become a major problem for the students of Padoor says the headmistress of the school.

The school management led by Dr N S Shetty had a meeting with ISPRL officer Rajshekhar regarding the transportation issues. But Rajshekhar said that neither ISPRL nor he is responsible for this and are not willing to bear the transportation fees. This has made the transportation difficult and many students are facing difficulties to continue their education in this school. The problem faced by the school was discussed with both Lalaji Mendon, MLA of Kaup as well as Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA of Kaup. But the efforts seemed to have not yielded any result as the MLAs have not responded to the appeal of the school management.

Adding to these problems, the school has only one government appointed staff and the rest five honorary staff is being paid a very nominal amount by the old students’ association and the school management committee through donations. Apart from Akshara Dasoha no other facilities are being provided for the students by the government. In the era where education has been a business, where some private schools take lac of rupees for admission, some schools like Padoor find it difficult to cope up with a day’s expense.

Adani Group is helping students in Padubidri for their education as well as by providing the school with funds and are contributing for shaping tomorrow’s future through today’s younger generation. The school management and the students wish that either the government or the ISPRL also helps them like Adanis so that the school and the students continue their education in the only school present in Padoor.