Schools facing closure for want of teachers

Nuzivid (Krishna): Contrary to the tall claims of the government on liberal spending to encourage education among children, schools in Nuzivid mandal of Krishna district are on the verge of closure. One primary school at Nehru Nagar was closed without intimation to the villagers. The reason cited for this was lack of students to support the school. But in reality, non-availability of teacher forced the authorities to deny education facility to the village kids. The villagers disputed the claim of the authorities. Even the media has established the fact that there are 20 children ready to attend the classes.

Even as the people are unable to judge the wisdom of the authorities in closing the school at Nehru Nagar, they suffered another shock. They came to know about an upper primary school at Surepalli village of Musunuru mandal that is likely to meet the same fate. Last year, there were four teachers for student strength of 80 at this school. None of these teachers stayed locally. This year, two of them got transferred.

Class VII students at this school are being taught on alternative days as there is criminal waste of academic hours. As a result, students are losing interest in studies. The number of students waned steadily over the past few months. The student strength at the school dropped to 58 now. As the students belonged to the poor families, they have to depend on government schooling. Their financial status will not allow them afford private schools. Not surprisingly, the dropouts are being engaged as child labour by their parents to maintain the family. The actual status of school-aged children in the mandal is quite different from the goals set by the government. This is high time the government take appropriate steps to save the future of kids leaving the schools.