Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Aug 1: While Kendriya Vidyalaya is one of the most sought after schools, due to the quality of education provided in India, parents who have admitted their children in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Udupi are regretting their decision due to lack of infrastructure and facilities.

Though the number of students joining this institution is increasing every year, the school does not have the infrastructure to handle student strength. The school also does not have enough classrooms.

The school which gives education for students from class I to VIII, does not have a permanent headmaster or headmistress even though it is functioning since the last three years.

The teachers are burdened with additional responsibilities, putting them into hardship. Besides academics, admission, examination and extracurricular activities are on the shoulders of the teachers. Therefore, teachers are unable to look into other activities that are conducive to educational growth. There are 354 children studying in the school in the current academic year. There are ten seats reserved under RTE.

Of the 22 teachers here, nine are fulltime. Children of the employees of central and state governments and nationalized banks who are getting transferred are given priority here. 

There is a requirement of 15 classrooms at present but classes are held in eight rooms. Therefore, seventh and eighth standard classes are being run in two classrooms of nearby Gandhi Shatabdi School. Sixth standard is held separately in an old building.

As toilet is situated close by, parents lament that the stink and unhygienic conditions will affect their children's health. Also the premise behind the building has turned into a dump yard. Mosquitoes menace is a common issue, and children’s health is at risk.

Though there is a compound wall for the school, there are many security concerns. There are two entrances to the school but there is no security person. Rag pickers come and go easily. There is no one to keep an eye on the children, when they leave school. There are dangers that small children can easily be lured by strangers. Parents regret for their decision when they compare the facilities of Central Schools in other districts.

The Kendriya Vidyalaya was approved for Udupi along with three other districts when K Jayaprakash Hegde was the Member of Parliament.

Government land in Alevoor restricted only to board

Udupi district administration had reserved ten acres government land at Alevoor, Pragathi Nagar for Kendriya Vidyalaya on May 13, 2015. It is situated ten kilometers away from Udupi. It appears that it is restricted only to the board, at present.

An excuse of NGT order was put forward to cut 400 Acacia trees on ten acre land at Pragathi Nagar. All the trees are cut and approximately Rs ten crores subsidy is returned.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Priyanka Mary Francis said that the problem of land at Pragathi Nagar was solved eight months ago but tender for construction of building is not called. “We have written to Kendriya Vidyalaya for speedy release of funds and construction of building. The school will be shifted to Alevoor if necessary, considering the welfare of children,” she said.

A parent teacher association was formed recently considering requests of parents which discussed scarcity of basic necessities. Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat has assured that he will scrutinize the deficiencies in the school, hold discussions with the DC and take suitable decision.

Parents have put forward eight important demands

The parents have voiced out demands such as appointment of Kannada teachers, appointment of fulltime headmistress instead of the one who comes only once in a week to teach, computer lab, laboratory, facilities conducive for children. “The number of children is bound to decrease in the absence of basic facilities. The school administration only shows helplessness, “says a parent.

Girish, a parent says that the school had promised good campus within three years of its inauguration. “Parents who believed them have admitted their children here after discontinuing their studies in other prestigious schools. There is no laboratory here for children of CBSC curriculum. Parents are not taken into confidence even after three years. Many parents are rethinking their decision and may admit their children into other schools. Lack of cleanliness and security has become their major worry. It is a problem that should be solved by the government and district administration,” he adds.

Kavita, another parent, had admitted her two children to Kendriya Vidyalaya after discontinuing their studies from a school in Brahmavar. She expresses disappointment by looking at the facilities available to children. She is worried about their future till tenth standard after looking at the land where no foundation is laid for the building. “Udupi administration should take up the initiative and immediately construct building at the land at Pragati Nagar. Though officials say that the building will be constructed within a month, parents and children will be relieved only if that happens,” she asserts.