Normalcy seems to have returned to schools in the agency areas of old united Adilabad district which saw turmoil during the latter part of the last academic year as a result of the Adivasi-Lambada tribe conflict. Good student attendance is being reported from almost all schools with those like the Tribal Welfare Ashram High School (girls) even recording a high of 99%.
The district administration and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Utnoor, had made ceaseless efforts in bringing back academic atmosphere to the schools affected by the Adivasi movement so that education of tribal children does not suffer as it did in the last academic year.
The Secondary Sschool Certificate pass percentage of around 20% in the Tribal Welfare managed schools gives an insight into the problems.
As part of their movement demanding removal of Lambada tribe from the list of Scheduled Tribes, the aboriginal people in Telangana, especially in Adilabad and Kumram Bheem Asifabad district had prevented Lambada teachers from reporting to duty in respective schools.
“Such teachers have been allotted to nearby schools which were not affected by the movement,” disclosed Integrated Tribal Development Aagency Project Officer S. Krishna Aditya as he talked about the current scenario.
“Of the 165 Lambada teachers who were affected only about 30 are reporting at respective Assistant Tribal Welfare Officers while all others have been accommodates in schools even in other mandals like Bela and Tamsi. All the 46 schools which were listed as affected are conducting regular classes now,” he added.
Education is running smoothly also because the government has recruited Contract Residential Teachers. Of the 1,130 recruited, 930 have reported for duty.
“Extra attention is what we are giving to studies of the students who had lagged behind due to the movement,” observed Keslapur AHS (G) head mistress Naitham Vijaylaxmi. “Some teachers are present in the school in the nights and on weekends and holidays to take special classes,” she said of the efforts being made to make up for the lost tempo.
