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Enrolment in GVMC schools on the rise
School dropout rate in the government-run educational institutions hog the headlines. But in contrast to this trend, as many as 20 Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Schools (GVMC) schools in the city witnessed eight per cent rise in enrolment of students, taking the students count from 5,800 to 6,300 this academic year.
Visakhapatnam: School dropout rate in the government-run educational institutions hog the headlines. But in contrast to this trend, as many as 20 Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Schools (GVMC) schools in the city witnessed eight per cent rise in enrolment of students, taking the students count from 5,800 to 6,300 this academic year.
According to the principals, equipping all these school campuses, which are located near slums, with basic facilities is one of the major reasons for increase in students’ strength. This happened at a time when the state government has introduced English as a medium of instruction in all the municipal schools.
As part of Swachh Bharat – Swachh Vidyalay project, Grama Swarajya Samithi (GSS) took up the task of refurbishing these GVMC schools situated closely to shanty towns.
Speaking to The Hans India, Relliveedhi GVMC Primary School head master N Sambasiva Rao said: “As the toilets in the school were not in a good condition, students used to walk one km or more to go for loo. And, they happen to miss half-day classes.
But, I noticed that things have changed with renovation of washrooms.” Explaining about objectives of the initiative, Grama Swarajya Samithi executive director Baddi Ramu said, “Only when students have access to facilities, bringing in behavioural change among the children is possible by inculcating good practices of water conservation, maintenance of hygiene.”
According to him, GSS has executed nearly Rs 1 crore worth works in 20 GVMC schools with the financial support of Plan India, US AID and Coca- Cola.
Project coordinator D Yellam Naidu said of the 20 GVMC co-education schools, five high schools, 14 primary schools and one is upper primary school.
“For this project, we have identified the schools which are surrounded by slums. Through the students, the idea is to take the message of cleanliness and conservation to their homes and parents,” he said.
The 20 schools are located at China Waltair, Dandu Bazar, Sivajipalem, Peda Waltair, Relliveedhi, Old Post Office, Seethampeta, Near Burma Colony, Kancharapalem, RP Peta, Townhall and Old Post Office. The facilities developed in the schools include 1,000 litres tanks for toilets, running water facilities, setting up of RO plants in three schools, construction of rain water harvesting pits, installing hand wash basins near toilets and putting up of PVC dustbins.
By Y Abhishek Paul
