Govt Primary School at Moazzam Jahi Mkt : A pale shadow of its former self

• The school was established in  1946
• Primary and Secondary schools were bifurcated in 2003
• The primary school dismantled and reconstructed in 2005
• No allotted sweepers and attenders for primary school
• Only Rs 7,500 towards maintenance expenses
• Six rooms face inundation during rains
• Dearth of teaching faculty too at the school

Moazzam Jahi Market: The December morning chill notwithstanding, the smile on the cheerful faces of children of hamalis and Nepalis (who form a major chunk of the work force in the Moazzam Jahi market and nearby areas), liven up the Government Primary School. 

Established in 1946, the school has seen better days. Today, however, with just over 150 students, the school is a pale shadow of its former self. 

Unlike most government schools that reek under dilapidated buildings and lack of toilets, the school has a character of its own with roman pillars and a proper balcony on the first floor. 

Speaking about the decline of the school, B Shailaja, headmistress, says, “With the area morphing into a commercial centre, the catchment area has shrunk. 

Coupled with the post liberalisation era, and mushrooming of private schools, the enrollments took a nosedive.” 

Needs a push and a shove

There is also a high school on the same premises. The primary school and the high school were bifurcated in the year 2003, when all the sweepers and attenders were allotted to the high school, leaving behind none for the primary one. This has had an effect on the school. 

With just Rs 2,500 per month under Swachh Bharath Abhiyan Scheme and Rs 7,500 every year as part of Samagraha Siksha Abhiyan for the maintenance of toilets and the building respectively, the school management is always hard-pressed for funds. 

Staff members say that they just need a little help from the government and the school would make a turn around. 

The primary school has six rooms untouched as they are half-underground. 
The rooms are much lower than the road level which poses a difficulty during monsoons as the water flows directly in. 

There’s a nala flowing beside the school and during rains, water drains into the school ground.  

Senior teachers say, the six rooms now lie vacant and if the government makes an effort and the enrollment increases, the school would once again regain past glory. 

“There was a good strength until the late 80s, however it started to decline after the 90s”, said B Shivakumari, Physics teacher of the high school. There are six teachers for primary and 16 for High School. 

There are 70 students in Telugu Medium, 65 in English medium and 23 in Urdu medium, whereas the strength of High School is 85 in total with 53 and 32 students for Telugu and Urdu media respectively.
 
While the teachers strength is good in the high school, the primary school teachers have to double up. 

A parent-Teacher meeting is held on 5th of every month where the parents are informed about the child’s performance. 

Smart boards, digital classes and student-centered teaching are given preference. The staff says, “The school has it all, what we need is just a little push.”