School runs with overcrowded students

Rakshapuram: When it comes to imparting education, the government leaves no stone unturned to see that every student gets educated. Even if it means cramming around 500 students in corridors and staircases for imparting education to students from poor and underprivileged families. Unbelievable it may seem, but the Government Primary School at Fateh Shah Nagar is shoving around 500 students in four rooms in a building. The students from English, Telugu and Urdu mediums are forced to study in these rooms and to make it possible the management is running the school in two different shifts.

To keep the students coming to school, the three mediums have been running in two shifts - one for primary and another for secondary under one roof. There are more than 300 students combined for primary section of all three mediums.

Students of class I to V of Telugu medium have been accommodated in two classrooms, while students of same classes from English and Urdu medium have been crammed in two other rooms. While the students, mostly from junior classes like I and II are spread out and sit in corridor and asbestos shade, which has a black board to show that it is a school room.

While the second shift which starts from 12.30 for higher classes between VI and X accommodates about 200 students in these same classes. With the combined strength of more than 500 students, about 300 students study in morning shift and more than 200 Telugu medium students study in afternoon shift.
The reason behind sudden over-spill at this school is not because of the surplus admissions, but due to the merger of two Government schools.

According to locals, the school which was running in Chatrimet was closed recently as it was converted into a Gowshala. “Some recent social activity at Government school located in Chatrimet prompted its closure. I came to know that it was later converted into Gowshala. The students who were studying there have to travel longer distances to reach this school,” said Mirza Saleem Baig, Area Corporator.

The corporator informed that an asbestos shade has been constructed recently in this school to perform prayers and also for having their mid day meals. Earlier, there was no shade and the students were forced to sit in open, without any shade. “The school is now being upgraded following a sanction of Rs 50 lakh. A 200 sq yards space has been allotted in GHMC ground and building with Ground plus one is being constructed for Urdu Medium primary students,” added the Corporator.