Relief camp turns a bane for students

Thiruvananthapuram: Around 10 years ago, Government UP school at Valiyathura had teachers switching roles on a regular basis to take extra classes after 3:30pm as part of the school’s ‘Aksharajyothi’ project to teach and perfect the basics of those students who had difficulty in catching up with the syllabus.
The once-prestigious school– where hundreds of students successfully completed their primary education – is slowly turning into a full-fledged relief camp, with over 20 families occupying most classrooms.
TOI had reported about the alarming dip in the number of admissions at the school and students having to deal with unhygienic conditions, owing to the relief camp in the campus. But, it seems authorities concerned are not bothered about how a school is slowly becoming a permanent relief camp.
The school now has four operational classrooms (including the computer lab) and an all-time low student strength of 59. The library, which was handed over for the relief camp, is non-operational and students are requesting transfer certificates in the first month of the academic year.
Department of fisheries and education are passing the buck. When asked about the situation, fisheries deputy director Beena Sukumar put the entire responsibility on revenue department. Education south zone AEO of the district was also unavailable for a response. Collector K Gopalakrishnan – who took charge last week – said that he was unaware of the details and assured that he would consider the issue. School authorities are tired of sending multiple petitions to revenue department to resolve the issue.
“The situation has worsened in recent times. There was a scenario where we had to raise sheets on four sides amid a classroom occupied by refugees and conduct a class. Multiple families – who occupied the room – were milling around the class, cooking and playing music on their television sets as the class continued.
The main issue is that kids cannot indulge in extracurricular activities that are necessary for primary students,” said Godwin S, a teacher.
Gopakumar Mathruka, former president of school management group, said that two previous headmasters (who served from 2015-2019) were quite vocal while raising complaints on the issues connected with the school turning into a relief camp before the education department.
“Ravi Rajan and Leelamma filed petitions before the concerned authority during their tenure as school principal. Whenever sea erosion happens, refugees arrive here and on the orders of the tahsildars of Muttathara and Pettah villages, classrooms instantly become a relief camp. The school has also consistently worked as a feeder school for St Antony’s HSS, the school run by the parish church. But that school’s management never supported our school in any way,” he said.