Education seems to have taken a backseat in Jakkampudi School considering the shortage of staff. The teacher-student ratio is abysmally low with more than 120 students studying in each class. There are just eight teachers to teach more than 900 students. The situation is grim with even the administrative post — headmaster of school — lying vacant.
The students are everything here. They don all the roles from teachers to sweepers to workers fetching water. Their schedule begins with cleaning the classrooms and the courtyard of the premises. They put their lives at risk daily as they collect drinking water from the sump constructed at the entrance of the school. The students are seen sitting idle, talking or playing while their teachers sit together and chat. With more than 120 students in a class, one can understand how much students would comprehend in the cacophony.
There may be many schools in the city or elsewhere in similar pathetic conditions. But, the Jakkampudi School is a standalone case. There are many twists and turns there which have been impacting the students.
The story goes back to the rehabilitation of people living in vulnerable and objectionable areas in the city. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) constructed houses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme. The Corporation promised all facilities, including a school, to the people who were shifted there. The VMC, however, did not take any necessary step to provide adequate staff and infrastructure. As the school is located in Vijayawada (Rural), the Mandal Parishad took over the reins in July. The situation did not improve. Instead, it deteriorated with the VMC pulling back its staff.
“A parent had intimidated that he would manhandle us if study certificate was not provided for his child. But we are helpless as the VMC took away the records also. What can we do,” lamented a teacher, who didn’t want to be identified.
It is ironic that there is an acute shortage of teachers when several teachers are yet to get postings. The officials are aware of the lack of infrastructure and shortage of teachers in the school.
When contacted, MEO G. Jaya Babu said a team comprising the DEO and others were expected to inspect the school shortly. Teachers would be posted after rationalisation which was going on.
CPI(M) leader Ch. Babu Rao said they had been pointing out the lapses but neither the officials nor the elected representatives had responded. On one hand, the government had been making tall claims of providing quality education in government schools but, the education had fallen flat. Acute staff shortage was affecting the students’ performance. There was a scope for high school there given the student strength. But, no efforts in that direction, he said.
