Mangaluru: A Dilapidated school building dating back to 1932 still functions as an institution of learning for 132 higher primary students while a blame game is on regarding the funding for a new building.
The government higher primary school is in Kodapadavu, Vittalpadnur, under the Bantwal BEO limits. In 2016, the Bantwal BEO had ordered the demolishing of the building and the construction of new classrooms. However, after five years, students continue to attend classes in the same about-to-collapse building.
The school development and monitoring committees (SDMC) president, Umar Farooq, said that Rs 21.20 lakh that was released from the Public Works Department in 2018 for the construction was diverted to another school.
Farooq told TOI that currently the school has only four classrooms, of these two in a dilapidated building to accommodate 132 children from classes I to VIII.
The rest of the children are taught in a 15-year-old new block which has two classrooms. One classroom is divided into three to accommodate Classes I to III. Another two classes are held in the open. “We are conducting class at a dilapidated building as there is no other way,” Farooq said.
In 2016, the BEO of Bantwal who ordered the demolition and construction of two new classrooms estimated the cost at Rs 32 lakh. In 2018, PWD sanctioned Rs 21.20 lakh for the construction. “The funds were diverted to another school in Kanyana. We need at least six good classrooms to run the school. The school SDMC members have been running from pillar to post but officials have not considered our pleas.”
Villagers pointed out that they had done house visits to increase admissions in the school. “It worked, we had received good admission and now we are struggling for classrooms. The government must step in immediately to construct the classrooms to retain the students. The parents may remove their children from the school next year because of fear,” a villager said.
When TOI contacted Jnanesh MP, BEO, Bantwal, he said there is a proposal to sanction three classrooms for the school. The funds were delayed because of the pandemic and even the school had not addressed the issue to the BEO.
The government higher primary school is in Kodapadavu, Vittalpadnur, under the Bantwal BEO limits. In 2016, the Bantwal BEO had ordered the demolishing of the building and the construction of new classrooms. However, after five years, students continue to attend classes in the same about-to-collapse building.
The school development and monitoring committees (SDMC) president, Umar Farooq, said that Rs 21.20 lakh that was released from the Public Works Department in 2018 for the construction was diverted to another school.
Farooq told TOI that currently the school has only four classrooms, of these two in a dilapidated building to accommodate 132 children from classes I to VIII.
The rest of the children are taught in a 15-year-old new block which has two classrooms. One classroom is divided into three to accommodate Classes I to III. Another two classes are held in the open. “We are conducting class at a dilapidated building as there is no other way,” Farooq said.
In 2016, the BEO of Bantwal who ordered the demolition and construction of two new classrooms estimated the cost at Rs 32 lakh. In 2018, PWD sanctioned Rs 21.20 lakh for the construction. “The funds were diverted to another school in Kanyana. We need at least six good classrooms to run the school. The school SDMC members have been running from pillar to post but officials have not considered our pleas.”
Villagers pointed out that they had done house visits to increase admissions in the school. “It worked, we had received good admission and now we are struggling for classrooms. The government must step in immediately to construct the classrooms to retain the students. The parents may remove their children from the school next year because of fear,” a villager said.
When TOI contacted Jnanesh MP, BEO, Bantwal, he said there is a proposal to sanction three classrooms for the school. The funds were delayed because of the pandemic and even the school had not addressed the issue to the BEO.
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