Old school buildings in panchayat unions lying in disuse for a prolonged period will be demolished and new buildings constructed wherever needed and possible.
Demolition of these old buildings is necessitated because of their weak structures as those posed a serious threat to the safety of children. Although these buildings have been in disuse, it is difficult to prevent pupils from entering the dilapidated areas. Most schools have an arch and an old building in the foreground, built during the late Kamaraj era. Also, several classrooms built under the ‘Sarva Siksha Abhiyan’ (SSA) about one-and-a-half decades are in a dilapidated condition. Their structural stability has been a big question mark, an Education Department official says.
A majority of 543 panchayat union primary schools and 208 panchayat union middle schools account for at least one old building built about six decades ago. The weakest structures could be found in many interior villages in Tiruthuraipoondi and Muthupettai area.
The district administration has taken in right earnest a firm decision to demolish the old buildings which have been in disuse. “Block-level committees each comprising the block development officer, union engineer, and additional educational officer have been formed to identify the old and weak buildings,” says S. Natarajan, District Collector, who earlier inspected schools at a number of villages, including Vilamal, Pulivalam, Naranamangalam, Mangudi, Tennavarayanallur, Boothamangalacheri, Tiruneypper, Kunniyur, Pinnavasal, Komal, and Thuraikudi villages. The survey would be completed within a week’s time.
“We have planned to construct new buildings wherever possible at the old sites,” says the source. The survey would take stock of other infrastructure such as availability of toilets, number of toilet blocks, black boards, benches, and drinking water facility. Compound would be constructed wherever needed.