One teacher for one student

Craze for English medium education brings troubles to govt. schools Tirupati: Though the government was claiming the implementation of compulsory education to all children under the age of 14 years, the student strength in many schools is at alarming low levels. In Ammacheruvu, Empedu and Pathagunta villages in Srikalahsti mandal, the teacher and student ratio is 1:1. Mandal Praja Parishad Primary School in Ammacheruvu village was established in 1998 and was well maintained for a few years. But since two years, this school was running with only one teacher and the student strength was one. Notably, the mid-day meal scheme also being implemented in the school, despite that the students are not joining the school.A School teacher (Special Grade Teacher) Shaik Haseena Beguam, who was deputed to this school from her earlier school in Timmavaram two years ago, teaches lessons to Class IV student Madhavi. The same can be seen in Empedu government primary school and in Pathagunta government primary school, where the student strength was only one. In Pathagunta school, a permanent teacher was posted and in Empedu school a 'Vidya Volunteer' will come daily from Venkatagiri.A When Shaik Haseena Begum joined this school, the student Madhavi was in Class II and now she was in Class IV. When contacted the Mandal Education Officer A Balaiah held the earlier teachers responsible for the decrease of student strength in the school. He said that he went to this school several times to conduct inspection and suggested to the teachers to have interaction with parents to send their children to school, but there was no result, he added. The population in Ammacheruvu village is about 150 with 40 families and many of the children are studying in private English medium school at Pallampeta. A few parents opined that they wanted to their children to get English medium education. Hence, they admitted their wards in the private school. The strength of the private school is over 150, the students come from Ammacheruvu, Empedu, Pallam and Pallampeta villages. He said that he had conducted meeting with parents suggesting them to join their children in Ammacheruvu government school, but in vain. "We are hopeful that in the next academic year, the student strength would increase, as they are hopeful, because they are planning to conduct several rounds of meetings with parents," he added.