Kundapur: Karki school - Villagers' meet resolves to reopen school, get new teachers
Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Jul 14: Story of Karki government primary school, which had failed to live up to the aspirations of the locals in spite of having sufficient school-going children within its jurisdiction, and the fact that it was on the verge of closure, had been carried by Daijiworld on July 7. The student strength of school, which had only 12 students last year had dwindled to just three this year. They were issued transfer certificates to other schools this year, and both the existing teachers were left with no work.
The education department, which woke up to the ground reality thereafter, convened a meeting of villagers on Friday July 12 to lend an ear to their grievances, and to welcome suggestions for revival of the school. The officials checked all the records maintained in the school, including the movement register.
The villagers told the officials that the teachers designated to the school have not been attending the school, and a private teacher, who is working by collecting Rs 50 from the parents of the students, was the only one to take classes here. They pointed out that one of the teachers sits at home, while the other is busy with own business. They offered to send their children to this school again, if the current teachers are replaced with two good teachers, one male, and the other female.
Block education officer, Chandrashekhar, said that he had earlier asked the teachers of this school to conduct classes on their own, without hiring services of private teacher. “I was not aware of appointment of a private teacher. We had asked the headmaster not to continue with the construction of ramp for the benefit of handicapped students of the school. We will take steps against the concerned for withdrawing money sanctioned towards the ramp in March this year, and taking up the work on urgent basis during July,” he promised.
Chairman of zilla panchayat health and education standing committee, Ganapathi Shriyan, took both the headmaster, Shekhar Shetty, and assistant teacher, Surendra Shetty, to task. He said that teachers are expected to keep in mind the efforts, struggles, and sacrifices made by the people of the village to see that a school is opened here, before allowing the school to be assigned to history.
Orders have already been issued, transferring headmaster, Shekhar Shetty, to Vate Bachchalu school in Hallihole, and Surendra Shetty, to Basriberi school in Mudoor, as per the decision taken. The charge of the school was decided to be handed over for the present, to cluster resource person (CRP). The parents of the school said that they will admit their children into this school, if the officials make a commitment to post two good teachers, one male, and one female, to the school within a week.