Khammam: The state government’s move of rationalisation of schools has drawn flak from teachers and intellectuals.
They fear it would hit the girl child education badly.
As per the government’s plan, schools having enrolment of less than 20 students at the primary level and less than 75 students at the secondary level will be shut down.
Significantly, many of the schools identified fit for closure had more girl students than boys. It was found that parents were sending their boys to schools imparting quality education even when the institutions are far away but preferring local schools for their girl children. In such a scenario, it is feared that girl children would be deprived of education, if the schools are closed.
V Manohar Raju, state general secretary of Telangana Teachers Federation, feared parents would not send their girls to schools situated far off, if those nearby their houses are closed down. “The parents of backward communities would not send their girls to schools in other villages for various reasons, one of which includes security factor,” he said.
The Rajiv Vidya Mission officials who had surveyed education in rural areas found different reasons for girl children dropping out from schools, including security and discrimination against girls. The officials recommended that government should set up schools in the neighbourhood in rural areas to encourage enrolment of girl children.
The tribals are vociferously protesting against the decision. K Buchaiah, Adivasi Employees’ Welfare Association leader, said the rationalisation move would turn tribal girl children into child labourers.
“Tribals hesitate to send their girls to schools in the neighbourhood and so sending them to distant places for education that can be ruled out. This will make many girls turn into child labourers,” he pointed out. Instead of closing down the schools, the government should motivate parents to send their wards to schools, suggested M. Bhaskar, a teacher in a school in tribal area. The closure of schools would hit the spirit of right to education, he added.
