With more than 200 government schools in the district facing threat of closure due to abysmally low student strength, teachers and other staff members of various government and Zilla Parishad schools have launched a vigorous campaign to enrol students into State-run schools for the 2016-17 academic year.
According to sources, there are around 18 government schools with zero student strength and 262 schools with a meagre strength of below 10 students each in Khammam. Schools which have low student strength will be merged with schools in the nearby areas based on the outcome of the ongoing student enrolment drive christened ‘Badi Bata’ programme, slated to be held up to June 13.
Buoyed by the overwhelming response to the State-run English-medium primary school at Patha Kothagudem in Kothagudem mandal from parents, the authorities concerned are mulling introduction of English-medium sections in class 1 in select government schools all over the district during the 2016-17 academic year.
The move is intended to capitalise on the craze for English-medium education among a cross section of society, improve student enrolment in government schools, and save schools having meagre student strength from the threat of closure, sources added. The authorities have already asked the MEOs concerned to elicit the views of parents, teachers, members of school management committees, and other stakeholders on the proposed move.
Meanwhile, the teachers of several government schools have intensified student enrolment drive by undertaking door-to-door campaign in Khammam division. The teachers of the Mandal Parishad Upper Primary School at Mutyalagudem in Kusumanchi mandal have put up colourful posters in the village highlighting the striking features of the State-run school – free education, mid-day meals, books, and uniforms, among other benefits.
