Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Jan 5: The School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) team, along with members of the old student association, has initiated a protest to urge the government to take over and reopen the Sarvodaya aided government higher primary school. With a rich history of 116 years, the school is on the verge of closure, prompting the formation of a committee dedicated to saving it.

The committee, advocating for the school's rescue, recently visited the SDMC samanvaya office to seek suggestions, instructions, and guidance for their cause. Present during the appeal were key figures, including school SDMC president Ismail, honorary president of Utsava committee Vivekananda Bhandary, member of SDMC Harish Kumar, office bearers of old students’ association I K Ibrahim, Abdulla Gulvadi, Sridhar Poojary, district president of SDMC Samanvaya forum Abdul Salaam Chittor, president of Kundapur taluk unit S V Nagaraj, Byndoor taluk treasurer Sadiq Mavinakatte and organizing secretary Varada Acharya.

Abdul Salam Chittoor stated that the SDMC forum would engage with the education department, bring the matter to the government's attention, and provide full cooperation to find a suitable solution.

The closure of the school would affect over 60 students in grades one to seven, leaving them without educational access. In the two-kilometre radius around the school, there is no alternative government school. Despite villagers submitting an appeal to convert the school into a government institution, it is yet to be considered. Following the retirement of teachers in aided schools, the education department mandates the formation of an administrative committee to manage the school. However, as there is no such committee in this school, the education department is poised to close it at the end of the current academic year.