The government lower primary school on the sprawling Raj Bhavan premises – which has been in existence since 1976 – appears set to close down even before the end of the academic year, with the Governor’s Secretariat asking the Education Department to shift the 16 students to other schools “at the earliest”.
In a communication to the Block Education Officer of Bangalore North division, the Secretariat states that the school was to be closed by September. The reason cited for the impending closure is that the school (from class 1 to 5) has only 16 students and, significantly, none are children of Raj Bhavan employees.
Block Education Officer of Bangalore North V. Ramesh confirmed that Raj Bhavan is in touch with him and he would be arranging a spot inspection after which he will submit a report to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. “We will ensure that children’s education is not affected,” said Mr. Ramesh.
The development has parents of the students worried. Some come from families of construction workers who live in make-shift tenements close by. In a petition to the governor’s office, they have pleaded that the proposal be dropped.
They have said they are anxious about their children’s future, since the present school provides “safety, good facilities and good education” and there is no guarantee of that in the new school. “Most of us leave for work in the morning and return only in the evening,” they have said, adding that a school on the premises of Raj Bhavan gives them assurance of safety in a context where cases of children being abused are on the rise and traffic situation is child-unfriendly.
Educationists are questioning the proposal to shift children in the middle of an academic year. V.P. Niranjan Aradhya, fellow at the Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India University, urged Governor Vajubhai Vala to intervene and ensure that the school is not closed.
Interestingly, a break-up of children in classes indicates a rise in the number of students at the entry level. Of the 16 students, 11 are in Class I. There are none in classes III and V.
