‘Badi Baata’ yet to begin even as summer vacation drawing to close

Rangareddy: Even as the summer vacation is coming to a draw, textbooks have reached government schools. Measures are under way to distribute the same among students on the very reopening day of the school.

The officials have plans to kick off the Badi Baata programme even before the release of the programme schedule as student enrollments in private schools is going to be over by June 1. Teachers of government schools are contacting parents in villages to convince them to enroll their wards in government schools citing availability of various amenities. Last year’s 11-day Badi Baata programme was a mere ritual. Against the targeted 30,000 enrollments, only 23,000 could be enrolled.

The officials succeeded in enrolling only 235 school children out of 335. They have failed to enroll 773 children of brick kiln workers in government schools. A foolproof plan to implement the programme is being prepared this year. The officials are of the view to implement a 12-day Badi Baata programme with the commencement of the schools after summer vacation.

To celebrate the Telangana State Formation day on June 2 in all schools, the summer vacation has been slashed by at least 12 days. Further, the two-week SSC advance supplementary exams will commence from June 4 engaging teachers in invigilation work. Doubts are being expressed over the success of Badi Baata while the teachers are away at invigilation work.

Therefore, the officials have plans to implement the two-phase Badi Baata. Teachers’ association leaders Sudhakar and Anjaneyulu opined that the programme should be implemented prior to schools re-opening since private school managements are on the job for over a month now.

Delay in implementing the programme will lead to students getting enrolled in private schools. Stating that only financially backward students are opting government schools, they suggested implementing Badi Baata in April-May period.