Mangalore: End of an Era—90-Year-Old School Closes Gates
By Prakash Samaga
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (PS/CN)
Mangalore, Jul 22: A primary school in Nagori, ‘Hindu Higher Primary School’, which has existed since 90 years lost almost all its pupils over this summer holidays and just 30 students remain in classes from 1 to 7, with worried parents opting to send them to alternative schools in Capitanio and Balmatta among leading the school to closure. This school is located in the midst of green landscape near Nagori.
The government order deems that schools which have less than 100 students, be closed. This ‘two teacher’ school continued to function as teacher Sushila with her 34 years of teaching service in the school did not want to close this school as at least 30 students study here and she had an emotional bond with this ‘poor’ school. Speaking to Daijiworld, she said that with the help of donors all programmes like ‘Prathibha Karanji’, and school day celebrations were conducted though this school was lacking basic facilities. Now, she has applied for VRS and will be relieved from service at the end of this month.
She recalls that at one time, there were about 16 teachers in this school and after they retired no new teachers were recruited. In 2006, there were at least 150 children studying here. With the school building being ruined every year, no repair was done. With the number of pupils going below 100, the concerned officers sent a memo saying that the school cannot be continued.
This private school was looked after by one Vidyasagar, under Gayathri Venkatesha Vidyavardhaka Sangha. With the students’ number going down, the school building was rented out to a family from Surathkal last month. When asked the reason for letting out the school building for rent, Vidyasagar said that most of the school documents are still inside the school. “If a watchman is employed, he has to be paid a salary, and instead this family was given shelter”, he said.
With this move, people in the area are disappointed that their dear school which existed since 90 years has no future.