Students travails, rain or shine

Hyderabad: Girl students in the heart of the city have been driven to look upon a makeshift structure built under a tree as their school, thanks to some NGOs that had provided them an asbestos roof, apart from benches and other items of equipment.

Despite help from certain NGOs over the past couple of years, and reflecting the galling apathy of District Education Office officials, there is only one toilet for about 60 children, making a mockery of all claims relating to official support for encouraging education of girls.

Till date, the State government has strangely not provided any facilities for what is nevertheless functioning as ‘Government Girls High School’ at Amberpet. The school has one big hall, partitioned into six classrooms. The students suffer due to scorching heat during bright sunny days and irritating drips during rainy days as the insufficient asbestos roof has many gaps.

Samreen, a Class IX student, said that during summer it was very difficult for them to sit under the asbestos roof as the school did not have a single light source or fan.

During the monsoon, rain water sends showers into the classrooms. Another student Waseema said, “Though we receive all the text books and uniforms in time, the school lacks proper infrastructure. Also, we are not provided with proper items of equipment for science. Same is the case with maps and other study material.”

When contacted, Government Girls High School principal Vandana said that the school had been functioning on rented premises and that there was no other place to shift the school. Some NGOs constructed toilet, provided bookshelf, and met certain other requirements. Besides, 20 feet of the school area was going towards road-winding, she added.

District Education Officer G Ramesh offered to consider the matter and provide all necessary facilities for the school.