89-year-old dilapidated govt school in dire need of new building

Mangaluru: A dilapidated roof, broken windows and doors and cracked walls—this is the pathetic condition of 89-year-old Pavoor Government Primary School. The school with 63 students, situated 25km from the city, is crying for immediate attention from the authorities.
School development management committee (SDMC) members have made repeated pleas to the department of instructions to repair or build a new school as children are studying in fear of their lives every day. According to locals and teachers, the school building may collapse any time.
The school was started in 1931 in Gadigadde in Pavoor village. It is the first school in the village, and provides education from class 1 to 7. The school has seven classrooms with five teachers. “The school, which once provided education to hundreds of children, is now in dire need of repairs. The school building is completely dilapidated. The government has sanctioned funds for flood damage to the school. However, the condition of the school is beyond repair, and a new building is needed. We have submitted our proposal to the department and are waiting for their permission,” said Suresh Poojary, president, SDMC.
“We fear for our and children’s life whenever there is heavy rain accompanied by gale. Children are immediately shifted to other classrooms during heavy rain,” added Abdul Majeed, a teacher at the school.
“The school building needs to be razed completely and a new one constructed. It cannot be repaired,” said Firoz Malar, president, Pavoor gram panchayat.
“Under flood damage funds, Rs 10 lakh was sanctioned to the school. The SDMC, villagers and local panchayat suggested that the school needs a new building, and that only repairs will not suffice. Their concern is genuine, and we have sent a proposal to the zilla panchayat on the same,” said Prashanth Kumar K A, in-charge BEO, South.