Thiruvananthapuram: Another male bastion is all set to crumble, and this time, the lead will be taken by the Indian armed forces. Sainik School, Kazhakoottam, has decided to admit girl students at the earliest following a directive of the Union ministry of defence to bring in girls students to all the 26 Sainik Schools across the country. But the school authorities are worried about the infrastructure being setup within the short span of time available.
It was last week that union minister of State for defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre made the announcement while addressing the 48th All India Sainik School (AISS) Principals' Conference at Karnal in Haryana. Six girls had got admission in June this year, at the Chhingchhip Sainik School in Mizoram. The government now wants all Sainik Schools to follow suit.
Vice-principal of SSK Commander Parchay Kalra told DC that the school is awaiting more details explaining the policy from the MoD and from the Sainik School Society. “We are doubtful of permitting the girl students to take admission from the next academic year due to the infrastructure issues," he said. "There has to be separate toilets and wash areas for girls. We have to appoint a lady warden, too.”
SSK has infrastructure to prepare co-ed classrooms. Currently, there are 616 cadets at SSK. There are nine women among the 32-strong teaching staff; it has a male warden and two female matrons who work from afternoon until dinner time. Ending the boy-only character of Sainik Schools has been a long standing demand across the system.
