The Cabinet decision on Wednesday to revoke the government sanction to close down Aided Upper Primary School, Malaparamba, has been welcomed as the “success of a mass struggle to protect public education” in the State.
A. Pradeepkumar, MLA, one of the lead campaigners to protect the school, said he was extremely happy that the government had “kept its word.”
Thanking everyone, including writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, who supported the cause and firmly stood with the School Protection Committee, Mr. Pradeepkumar warned that giving the school back to its present manager would be detrimental to its future. “Hence, the government should take over the school without any delay,” he said.
After the takeover, he said, everything would be done to ensure that the school was developed as a “model UP School,” as he had done in the case of Government Girls Vocational Higher Secondary School, Nadakkavu, in the city.
Mr. Pradeepkumar told The Hindu over phone that he had allocated Rs.5 lakh from his MLA fund for the school. “This will be used to set up a multimedia classroom, computer lab, mathematics lab, and a small park to attract more students to the school,” he said.
School headmistress N.M. Preethi, who termed the decision the “inspiring effect of a collective effort,” said she was “enormously happy” and “relieved.”
Regretting that the “delay in the decision” had led many students to rethink their admission to the school this year, Ms. Preethi said her team would do everything possible to increase the number of admissions next year. “We will definitely come back like a phoenix from the ashes,” she said.
She said around 15 students had demonstrated their willingness to join the school this year.
The school, at present, has 45 students in different classes.
The reconstruction of the school, which was allegedly demolished by its manager on April 11, is progressing steadily. Various socio-political organisations, including the Kerala School Teachers Association and the Democratic Youth Federation of India, have contributed generously to the reconstruction fund.
School PTA president K.P. Ajithkumar said he was completely overwhelmed by the decision to retain the school. “All our efforts didn’t go in vain.”
School Protection Committee convener M. Jayadeep is busy with his plans to organise a “fitting and festive” praveshanotsavam for the students when the school reopens on June 2.
