Geographical proximity to the restive border with Chhattisgarh is proving to be a bane for several State-run schools in Telangana’s tribal heartland of Bhadrachalam Agency.
Many schools run by the local self-government bodies in Charla mandal continue to grapple with issues like poor infrastructure facilities and falling academic standards, dearth of teachers and supervisory officers besides ineffective monitoring.
As many as five Mandal Parishad Primary Schools (MPPS), one each in Ramachandrapuram, Bakka Chintalapadu, Burgupadu and two other tribal habitations in Charla mandal are functioning from makeshift structures like thatched huts. Many other schools, including those run by the Tribal Welfare Department, are functioning in congested buildings or rented premises, sources said.
The State-run schools in Bodenelli, Rallapuram, Erraboru, Korkatampadu and several other tribal habitations along the inter-State border with Chhattisgarh are being maintained by Vidya volunteers in the absence of regular teachers, sources added.
The Government Primary School at Pusuguppa, a border village located 18 km from Charla, has a strength of 19 students, including 11 girls belonging to both Koya and Gutti Koya tribal communities.
No toilets
However, there is not a single toilet in the school building. “We have represented the matter to the school management committee,” says Jayaram, a resident of the remote tribal habitation.
Many State-run schools in Charla and elsewhere in Bhadrachalam Agency lack proper buildings, toilets and drinking water facilities, said SFI district president Madakam Satish.
Notwithstanding official claims about spending crores of rupees on infrastructure development for schools in tribal areas, the situation in most government schools in remote areas remains unchanged, he rued.
The utter neglect of monitoring mechanism is quite evident from the failure of the government to appoint regular Mandal Educational Officers in the predominantly tribal populated district, he says, pointing out that the last teachers’ recruitment drive was conducted in the Agency areas in 2012-13.
Visit by officials
The officials hardly visit our remote areas due to the geographical proximity to the insurgency-hit areas of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, points out a resident of Kurnapalli, who did not wish to be identified.
Lack of proper supervision is taking a toll on education of our wards, the resident rues.
When contacted, Charla in-charge MEO Jumkilal said permanent buildings for the local body schools in five villages in the mandal could not be constructed for want of clearance from the Forest Department.
