A park for government school

Construction work on a children’s park under way at Government Lower Primary and Nursery School, Mettukada, in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Meedhu Miriyam Joseph

When Government Lower Primary and Nursery School, Mettukada, will reopen next month, the students can look forward to having some fun time at a brand new children’s park.

The Rs.3-lakh garden project is one among the many initiatives taken up by the authorities to make the government school on a par with private schools. The initiatives gave the school, which was on the verge of closure a few years ago, a new lease of life. The other projects include a complete makeover of the school through beautification and setting up of a children’s own vegetable garden and a mini-zoo.

“The project was sanctioned this year and funds were allotted from MLA fund of Minister for Health V.S.Sivakumar. The work will be completed by the end of this month,” said A.S. Mansoor, teacher-in-charge.

The garden is being set up on a 40-cent land adjacent to the kindergarten section. It will feature the latest play equipment. The project is being implemented by Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra.

C. Geetha, Headmistress, said that being a lower primary school, a children’s park was vital for the young kids, who unlike the high school students, are not burdened with studies.

“The school has a very limited campus and does not have a sufficient play area. Hence it was decided that a children’s park was necessary to help the children have some fun time along with their studies,” said Ms. Geetha.

From planning the model of the park to selecting play equipment, teachers of the school have played an active role in the design and landscaping for the play area, she added.

T. Seema, MP, who came to know about the initiatives of the school authorities, has allotted Rs.15 lakh for constructing two classrooms. The team of teachers and members of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) are wasting no time and have already completed the plan for the classrooms.

Simultaneously, the authorities are looking forward to sourcing water from the new well at the school, the work of which is expected to be completed in a month.

Drinking water scarcity is a major problem in the area and this well will benefit not just the students but also the local people, said a PTA member.