Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Feb 4: The government lower primary school, known by the name, 'Devara Shaale', which was functioning in the premises of Lord Mahalingeshwara temple here abruptly stopped functioning from Wednesday February 1. The education department closed down the school without bringing it to the notice of the people's representatives and temple management.

It is said that parents of the students of this school as well as members of school development and monitoring committee had sought shifting of the students to nearby schools at Haradi, Nellikatte and Ragikumeru because of lack of facilities like water, toilets, safety etc. This demand has been met now.

In the past, the temple management had provided water supply and other facilities to the school. When water had oozed into the classrooms, the temple had provided alternative premises to run the classes. There was a time when effluents from a nearby drain had seeped into the class. People recollect that the school was not closed under these critical circumstances, but now it has been closed down all of a sudden.

Local MLA, Shakuntala Shetty, said she was not aware of closure of the school. She felt that it was wrong to have closed the school, as even schools with a student strength of within 20 are being run by the government.

The temple managing committee is also unaware of the decision to close the school, it is learnt.

Block education officer, Shashidhar G S, stated that the children were admitted into nearby schools as the school lacked basic amenities.