Unsafe buildings pose threat to school students

The school at Gopalapuram village was built 20 years ago

A portion of the cement plaster in a room of the Panchayat Union Middle School at R. Gopalapuram in Ramapattinam panchayat in Pollachi North block posing danger.

The dilapidated buildings of the Panchayat Union Middle School at R. Gopalapuram village in Ramapattinam panchayat under the Pollachi North Block is posing a threat to the life of students and teachers. The school functions in three buildings, including one with tiled roofing.

As many as 250 students from Standard I to VIII are deprived of basic amenities.

Large cracks on the wall of one of the buildings are a clear indication of danger posing the students. Free fall of tiles from the roof of another building is a regular occurrence. The buildings were renovated in 2010 at an estimated cost of ₹ 79,500.

When contacted, the District Education Officer (in charge) K. Vellingiri told

The Hindu that the Block Education Officer (BEO) N. Chinnappa Raj had inspected the school on Thursday. The leaky roofs of classrooms have affected the classes. Due to continuous rain in Pollachi and its surroundings for the past few days, the block education officer has been asked to find out an alternate building for smooth functioning of the classes.

Mr. Chinnappa Raj said he had visited the school on Thursday and had discussion with the staff members and the members of Parent Teachers’ Association over phone. “The headmistress had not updated the department about the condition of the buildings during summer. If she had informed in advance, we would have repaired before reopening of the school,” Mr. Chinnappa Raj said.

The school, built nearly 20 years ago, was badly damaged and needs immediate repair, the BEO said.

Mr. Chinnappa Raj, who convened a meeting of the Parent Teachers’ Association on Monday, decided to shift four classes to a community hall situated nearly half-a-km from the school. A decision would be taken after getting sanction from the Block Development Officer as a stop gap arrangement, he added.

The adjoining anganwadi building, with nearly 25 children, also needs immediate repair, as the plastering from the roof came off recently, the villagers said.