MANGALORE: There are several schools in the district which are run by the Departments of Social Welfare, Backward Classes and Minorities Department and under the Integrated Tribal Development Programme. But sadly, most of these schools lack basic amenities much to the disadvantage of the children from economically backward families who avail education in these schools.
As of now, the district has 14 ashrama schools which have classes from Standard I to V and 11 Morarji Desai Schools conducting classes from 6 to 10.
The government rules say that a Morarji Desai School should be located in a land measuring 25 acres and should have 11 teachers and should provide for computer education, physical education, art and music classes. Rules also state that the school should have 14 non-teaching staff including 3 cooks, 3 cleanliness staff, clerks, two watchmen, one nurse, a warden and a ‘D’ group employee.
But Parameshwar Poojari, Superintendent of Backward Classes and Minorities Department says most of the Morarji Desai Schools do not have the requisite staff.
Even the condition of Ashrama residential schools is no better. In four such schools in Belthangady which are run under Tribal Development Scheme, a headmaster named Bhoja does all duties right upto that of a warden.
Instead of appointing a teacher for every class or subject, one teacher is appointed for every 25 students. Most of the schools also do not have headmasters and wardens. Moreover, the cooks itself do the sweeping and other cleanliness works in the ashrama schools.
Except for the Morarji Desai School at Machina, no other school is located in an independent land. Still, there is a praise for Machina School. One of its old students says the school has good hostel facilities for boys and girls apart from good teaching staff, and a spacious play ground.
But, the problem at Neriya Ashrama School has remained unsolved with leaking roofs making it difficult for students to stay in their rooms.
In most of the schools the lavatories are located far quite away from the rooms of the students inconveniencing the students particularly during night time.
Still, the schools are functioning amid the problems with the hope that the government would take steps to better their condition in the near future.
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