Century-old govt school is in need of a new building

Hubballi: At the dilapidated century-old government school in Girani Chal in Hubballi, incessant rain this year has left the roof leaking, while the infrastructure leaves much to be desired. Consequently, enrolment at the school has been on a downward spiral for the past few years. While 40 students sought admission to the school in the 2021-22 academic year, the number dropped to 31 this academic year, reflecting parents’ growing apprehensions over sending their children to the school.
It is more than 35 years since the school building was last renovated. The leaking ceiling of the building is today covered with a sheet. The poor condition of the building prompted a few NGOs to construct an additional room for housing children, but the government has remained apathetic to its plight. Among others, the school counts among its alumni many an elected representative, and members of the School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC), despite which efforts are not being made to refurbish the building.
The school on Karwar Road is roughly two kilometres from Hubballi. The primary school, which offers education to students from classes one to five, boasts a strength of 31. The newly-built room is being used for students from classes one to three, while lessons are held for those in classes four, and five, in a shed that has a tin roof.
Hubballi city block education officer (BEO) Channabasappagouda told TOI, “The land on which the school stands is entangled in litigation. We have written to the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) seeking land to construct a new building. Since the land is owned by a private entity, construction of new structures is rendered difficult for the department of public instruction.” HDMC corporator Mangalamma Mohan Hiremani said that minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa was one of the alumni of the school. “Despite his elevated position in the ranks of the government, he has failed to ensure the construction of a new building for the school. Our appeals to the authorities concerned have been to no avail,” Mangalamma said.
Girani Chal resident Kuber Pawar said that the school was without a dispenser for drinking water, lavatories, among other basic amenities.