The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Students suffer due to shortage of classrooms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 28, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Students suffer due to shortage of classrooms

Swathi.V

Old ones pulled down, new block yet to be constructed

Rs. 1.8 crore sanctioned under Rajiv Vidya Mission for the construction of the block
‘Delay is due to lack of a way to carry the construction material on the school premises’

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Hard Reality: Students of Mahabubia Girls’ High School are forced to sit under trees on the school campus on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Students scattered section-wise in the playground of Mahabubia Girls’ High School learnt their lessons under the scorching sun. While the magnificent heritage structure that had to house them stood behind helplessly as its rooms and corridors teemed with students.

Maximisation of space has been forced on the century-old school notwithstanding the fact that it had once housed over 4,000 students. After forfeiting part of the building for junior college, the school still had a capacity to accommodate 1,200 students. However, it now faces an acute shortage of classrooms, all due to apathy of the officials concerned.

The school was promised a Centenary Block on its 100th anniversary two years ago by the then minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir.

To make space for the new buildings, it was decided to demolish the old classrooms that did not form part of the heritage structure. Foundation stone was duly laid in February 2007, and the old classrooms were pulled down. Funds to the tune of Rs.1.8 crore were sanctioned to the Rajiv Vidya Mission for the construction of the block. However, the process was stalled since then.

“Had the construction begun as planned, we would have taken possession of the new block by now. If they had no intention of building a new block, why did they demolish the existing classrooms?” questions an agitated teacher.

Shifts

The school functioning in general shift earlier is now confined to morning shift due to lack of space. This could have an adverse impact on the results, the teachers fear. Incidentally, the school achieved 71 per cent results in the SSC. Majority of the students are from SC, ST and minority communities.

“We have students coming from far off places such as Dilsukhnagar, Yakutpura, Puranapul, Mehdipatnam, Secunderabad, and even Medchal. We had to reject many admissions due to lack of rooms. If we admit all, the strength will have crossed 2,000,” an official from the school said. Rashid, an activist from the Forum for Improvement of Government Schools alleged ploy on behalf of the district Collectorate towards usurping the building. However, Collector Navin Mittal refuted the allegations and ascribed the delay to the lack of way to carry construction material inside. “We cannot haul the material inside without demolishing the heritage structure. I will inspect the site on Tuesday and take a decision,” he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh