KHAMMAM: Education department officials are worried that 29 of total 185 schools in Khammam district have witnessed zero enrolments.
These include five primary schools in Karepalli, four each in Kamepalli and Penuballi, three each in Bonakal and Madhira, two each in Tallada, Raghunathapalem and Tirumalayapalem, and one each Sattupalli, Vemsoor, Wyra and Errupalem mandals.
All these schools had been established during the rule of NTR under Operation Black Board. Five of the 29 schools with zero enrolments are in hamlets.
Low enrolments too are a cause of worry. 51 schools have less than 10 students in each class. There are eight such schools in Penuballi mandal, six in Kusumanchi, five each in Karepalli, Tallada and Tirumalayapalem, four each in Kallur and Errupalem, three in Raghunathapalem, two each in Khammam Urban, Khammam Rural, Vemsoor and Enkoor, and one each in Madhira, Bonakal and Kamepalli mandals.
K. Bhaskar, a retired headmaster, said, “The government has not been organising programmes like “Badiki Podam” to make parents aware about the need to join their kids into schools. This is one of the reasons for zero and less enrolment.”
Nearly 105 schools have had enrolments between 10 and 20 students.
Fear of Covid-19 is said to be one of the reasons for poor enrolment.
The education department says it is not getting support from representatives of local bodies in this regard.
An educator said lack of teachers in these schools is also discouraging parents from sending their children to government schools. Those who can afford are admitting their kids into private schools near their habitations.
