The Dakshina Kannada district has 14 ashrama schools (classes I to V) and 11 Morarji Desai schools (classes VI to X) run by the Social Welfare Department, the Backward Classes and Minorities Department, and one under the Integrated Tribal Development Project. A random visit to five residential schools revealed that despite minor improvements over the years, infrastructure remains a major problem in these institutions.
According to government rules, Morarji Desai schools should be set up on 25 acres of land and have 11 teachers: one each for every subject and for computer education, physical education, craft and music. There should be 14 non-teaching staff, including three cooks, three cleaners, three computer clerks, two watchmen, a nurse, a warden, and a Group D employee.
Superintendent of the BCM Department Parameshwar Poojary told The Hindu that most residential schools did not have the sanctioned staff of 25.
Unlike Morarji Desai schools, no norms have been laid down for the ashrama schools with regard to staff strength or infrastructure. C. Boja, who is the headmaster-cum-warden of all the four ashrama schools run by the ITDP in Belthangady, said that teachers should be sanctioned either on the basis of number of classes or at one teacher for every subject, rather than the number of students. At present, the norm is to appoint one teacher for every 25 students. As a result, teachers in most schools are forced to conduct combined classes. Several schools do not have permanent headmasters and wardens.
Many teachers felt the need for a nurse permanently stationed at residential schools, as many of them are located in remote areas with infrequent public transport. In ashrama schools, the cooks usually do the cleaning and students in classes IV and V often sweep and swab the floor.
Except for one school, none of the Morarji Desai schools run by the BCM Department have their own buildings or lands. Because of this, it was difficult to provide the necessary facilities, said Mr. Poojary. At present, the Morarji Desai school in Machchina at Belthagady alone has a own building.
The only school run by the ITDP is built on land of their own, said Parvathi, an official in the ITDP.
A former student of the Machchina School, Aseema from Ujire, told The Hindu that the school was “very good” as it has separate hostels for girls and boys, staff quarters, and a playground. .
Children at the ashrama school in Neriya complained that they have to sleep on the floor, despite the blankets and bed spreads that they are given because of bed-wetting problem. Some of the school hostels have cots for the children, but no mattresses have been supplied anywhere.
In several schools, toilets are far away from the sleeping quarters. Both Morarji Desai and ashrama schools do not have adequate space on their premises for children to play. The children, however, have no complaints about the food.
