Tamil Nadu: Education of 25 kids stopped as panchayat school lacks space

COIMBATORE: A panchayat union primary school, with a strength of 17 students, at Vandikaranur village near Thondamuthur is functioning from a small room in a private building. At least 25 children who studied in the school last year are out of school as there is not enough space to accommodate them. Also non-availability of toilets has forced the students to use restrooms in houses of other tenants in the building.
The tiled-roof building of the school, which was constructed in 1957, was demolished in March this year and the construction of a new building commenced soon after.
Teachers approached school education department and rural development officials to help them find another place to run the school temporarily. Officials, however, did not provide any help and teachers had to find a building themselves. The present building owner, seeing the plight of teachers and students, allowed them to use the room free of cost. Teachers also approached other tenants seeking permission for students to use their toilets.
TOI visited the makeshift school recently. At least a decade ago, more than 70 students were studying in the school. Last academic year, there were 43 students, of which 25 students were children of guest workers from Assam. The guest workers are employed by an arecanut production company in the village.
“Only 17 students are studying in the school at present as there is not enough space to admit more students. The guest workers were asked to send their children to school after the construction of the new building is completed. Their 25 children are now out of school and accompanying them to the arecanut company,” said a source.
Teachers of the school and parents of students refused to comment on the situation. “Officials should rent a bigger building with a toilet facility for the school to function temporarily so that education of guest workers’ children could also be continued,” the source added.
When TOI visited the school, Thondamuthur town panchayat councillor Manimegalai also came there and questioned the teachers. She told TOI that the construction work of the new building would be completed within 20 days. The building would have drinking water and toilet facilities, she said.
TOI visited the construction site too and learnt that it would take more than two months to complete the building work.
Thondamuthur block development officer (BDO) Satheesh kumar said the construction work would be completed within two months and the new building would be handed over to the school education department by the end of this year.