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Government norms leave students in the lurch
At the time of interaction with the DEO, the respective official assured us of stalling the termination move in regard to the particular school if they could manage to increase the enrolment of students,” said Gottam Village vice-president K Eswara Rao speaking to The Hans India.
Visakhapatnam: In politics, numbers are sacrosanct and that’s the reason every political party tries to get a magical number by hook or crook to form a government. Of course, for that matter in this digital age digits are ruling our lives. Now, as a case in point of this number game, let’s look into the plight of Mandal Praja Parishad Upper Primary School students at Gottam Village in K Kotapadu mandal of Visakhapatnam district.
As many as 15 students of Class VI and VII were given transfer certificates (TCs) during the afternoon session of school hours on Monday. This was done, in the wake of rationalisation of teachers and staff in the schools as per the GO No. 29 across the state. The upper primary schools consisting less than 20 students in Class VI and VII would be shut down and the teachers working in those schools would be transferred, according to sources.
The MPPUP School at Gottam village is not an exception for execution of new guidelines which were rolled out in this academic year by the HRD Ministry. However, the villagers and parents of the students claim that their MPPUP School has a magical number for this year as there are 21 students in Class VI and VII.
According to parents, when the decision was taken to stop teaching for Class VI and VII in July first week, they met HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao who directed them towards the DEO by giving a referral letter.
“At the time of interaction with the DEO, the respective official assured us of stalling the termination move in regard to the particular school if they could manage to increase the enrolment of students,” said Gottam Village vice-president K Eswara Rao speaking to The Hans India.
“It is true that our school has less than 20 students. But upon the suggestion of the DEO, we have put our efforts to admit more children in both the classes within three days.
Thereby taking the students strength to 21,” noted Eswara Rao and added that they met the DEO yet again seeking decision in their favour However, the DEO informed them that the list has already been prepared and it may not be possible to reverse the decision, he said.
“If teaching is stopped in this school, we have to send our children to another school and they have to walk 10 km to reach the school. This is not acceptable to us,” said Varalakshmi, mother of a student.
According to parents, in the next academic year Classes VI and VII would have strength of around 45 children. “So, if the head count is the main criterion to run the upper primary classes, then the school can be run this academic year and the next year, too, as it has the magical number. Considering this, the authorities should take a decision as it affects our children future,” she said. When tried to contact the DEO he was not unavailable.
By Y Abhishek Paul
