Bhubaneswar: Axe hangs over Govt Girls' High School in Unit-9 area

BHUBANESWAR: After closing down Government Boys' High School in Unit-2 in the city, the school and mass education department is also planning to close down the Government Girls' High School in Unit-9.
Set up in 1967, the school is adjacent to Rama Devi Women's University and has nearly 400 students.
The government is closing the school to give the area to RD University, sources said. Parents of the students have requested the school and mass education minister to reconsider the decision and not to close down the school.
"After we came to know that the state government is planning to merge the Government Girls High School, Unit-9 with the nearby Boys High School in March-2023, we met the school and mass education minister and requested him to reconsider the decision. He had assured us that the proposal will be reconsidered," said Satyabrata Parida, president of School Management Committee.
The school, which has classes VI to X, has a total 400 students and 23 staff, including 18 teachers. The school was transformed to a 5T high school in the first phase and is equipped with new smart classrooms, well-developed e-libraries, state-of-the-art laboratory-cum-interactive science centres, advanced sports infrastructure and a child-friendly campus.
"The school must continue because this is the only government school in the city where Urdu is being taught. Muslim families from across the city send their daughters to this school to learn Urdu. The government must consider continuing the school for the larger interest of the community," said Sheikh Nizamuddin, former councillor and former president of the school committee.
Parents also maintained that the school has been consistently performing well in the annual matriculation examination with 90% success. The school's band party has been winning awards for its performance at various civic functions. Besides, the school has wings of NCC, Red Cross, police cadets, yoga club, literary club.
"I prefer to send my daughter to this school because of its discipline, quality education and safety. If the school shifts or is merged with any other school, many parents may not send their wards to that school," said Sujata Sahu, a parent.