Villages Step In To Reopen Govt Schools In Nalgonda
Officials said 50 government schools have been reopened for the current academic year with fresh enrolment. District education officer P. Susheender Rao said efforts are on to reopen at least 100 schools this year.
Nalgonda: District authorities in Nalgonda district have initiated measures to revive government schools, with support from local bodies yielding early results.
A total of 315 government schools, including 300 primary schools, were closed in the district by the last academic year, among the highest in the country. Taking note, district collector B. Chandrasekhar directed education officials to focus on reopening closed schools and conduct ‘Badi Baata’ campaigns in affected villages. He also reviewed the issue with mandal education officers.
Officials said 50 government schools have been reopened for the current academic year with fresh enrolment. District education officer P. Susheender Rao said efforts are on to reopen at least 100 schools this year. Teachers have been creating awareness among parents on free quality education in government institutions, while some sarpanches have launched local initiatives.
Local body representatives have also stepped in to encourage enrolment. Mallapurajupalli sarpanch from Nampally mandal, Mantipalli Manimala, announced a waiver of property and water taxes for families sending children to the government school, with the gram sabha passing a resolution to this effect. She has offered to bear the cost if required.
In Namapuram village of Marriguda mandal, the gram panchayat resolved to bar private school buses from entering the village from the start of the current academic year. Sarpanch Beemanapalli Ramaiah said the decision would be strictly implemented.
In neighbouring Yadadri-Bhongir district, Tajopur sarpanch Raayakala Santhosha Srinivas, announced she would pay property taxes from her salary for families sending children to government schools.
Meanwhile, the Government Primary School at Gattuppal in Nalgonda has recorded an enrolment of 171 students, with more than 30 students in each class, emerging as an example amid closures due to low strength.
The administration aims to reopen all closed government schools in a phased manner.