Hubballi: School plagued by pigs and mosquitoes

By: Akshay Doddamani
HUBBALLI: The number of pigs, with mosquitoes crawling over their skin, prowling around the building, and its premises would lead one to mistake the structure to be a sty, but a closer inspection would reveal it to be the government higher primary school.
The pigs running amok on the grounds is but one indicator of the condition of the government higher primary school in Shiradi Nagar in Hubballi.
Teachers and other employees at the school, and the students, have to contend with more than pigs and mosquitoes, given that the dilapidated building is vulnerable to seepage when there is heavy rainfall. The condition of the lavatories is not too different either, as reflected by the damaged windows.
Located about five kilometres from the centre of Hubballi, the school has seven classrooms, and a strength of 100 students. The school, which is beside a hostel for students of pre- and post-matriculation, is struggling to ensure a hygienic atmosphere.
Sewage from the open drains running in front of the school flows over the ground, and the foul smell renders the learning atmosphere anything but conducive.
Parents are worried about their children contracting infectious diseases.
Feroz Rahim Khan, father of a student enrolled in the school, said that parents of 10 students decided to admit their wards to another institution after obtaining the transfer certificate this year. “We appealed to former chief minister Jagadish Shettar to ensure the school was equipped with modern amenities when he was in Shirdi Nagar recently,” Rahim Khan told TOI.
He rued that the school development monitoring committee was in a slumber, and was indifferent to the crumbling of the building and the lack of basic facilities. “Since most of the students are children of labourers, neither officials nor the elected representatives appear to be concerned,” Khan added.
Geeta Kabber, headmistress of the school, said that the surroundings were a den for mosquitoes. As a result, many parents were growing apprehensive about sending their children to class. “Once the government sanctions the funds, we will renovate the building and upgrade the infrastructure,” she said.
Hubballi block education officer Channabasappagouda said: “Following discussions with the headmistress and teachers, we have submitted a proposal to the government, seeking funds for refurbishment of the school. We want to build three new classrooms. Once we get the authorities’ approval, work on the new classrooms will begin.”