Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Oct 12: The office of the Prime Minister (PMO) has responded to a letter written by a girl requesting to save the only high school in her village that is heading towards closure.

The department of education, citing shortage of students, had advised last year to merge Hiriadka Panchanabettu Vidyavardhama aided high school with another school. At the request of the school administration, it had later given one-year extension for the school. Citing that there has been no improvement in the situation, the department had advised to shift teachers of the school to another school. Out of six teachers of the school, three have already left for other schools.

At the request of the school administration, as a special case, the government has permitted the school to continue for this year.

In the meanwhile, a ninth standard student of the school, Varshitha R, had written to the PM's office, requesting to save the sole high school of her village.

In her letter, Varshitha had pleaded to retain the school, citing that this high school was very much needed for the people living in a radius of 15 km. She said that if the high school was closed, students of her village would have to go to Bailoor, which is 8 km away.

"I completed my SSLC from this school last year, and now my sister is studying here in 9th standard. I urge the government to retain this school for the benefit of rural students," she said, urging the government to encourage education among rural students.

In response, the PM's office has written to the chief secretary of Karnataka governent, asking the latter to scrutinise the request and send a reply to the girl.

The said high school had been opened 30 years ago, and it had 42 students. This time, 10 students who appeared for SSLC examination have left the school. The school was about to admit 30 students but because of the coronavirus situation, it was postponed. The school is also equipped with hostel facility.

President of Vidyavardhaka Sangha which manages the school says that this Kannada medium school is run without donations. He feels that the officials are showing unnecessary aggression towards the school.

Block education officer Manjula said she has no information about the purported letter from the PM's office. She said that she had visited the school and conducted verification during which it was found that the school has less students than the minimum required.