Uncertain future for 300 students

A primary school is being shut down to construct a flyover

• Government Primary School, Tolichowki, to be razed down
• Education dept officials bungle, fail to find an alternative

Unless the education department officials act promptly, the future of 300 primary school students will be at stake. Government Primary School at Tolichowki would be razed down to facilitate the construction of a flyover. Though the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials had issued notices to the education department officials about a year ago, the officials have failed to search for an alternative.

The school which operates in Telugu and Urdu medium is the only government school in the locality.

Principal of the school Sk Askari informed that they received a notice from the GHMC confirming that the school would be razed down in the last week of this month.

Teachers’ associations are blaming the former DEO (District Education Officer) Subba Reddy for inaction, which is now affecting the future of 300 students. And by the time new DEO was informed about the urgency of the issue, it was already too late. Though, there is now a frantic search for an alternative, the officials are failing the endeavour.

“Post bifurcation the rents in the area have shot up exponentially. With the government approved rental rates, it is impossible to house the school in a rented premises,” said Askari. “There are no buildings, which fulfils the requirements to house the schools, either,” he added. The education department officials are now mulling on transferring the Telugu medium students to the Government School in Shaikpet and Urdu medium students to the Government School in Mohammadi Lane. But, this decision is receiving flak from the parents, as they aren’t willing to send their wards away from the vicinity.

“With great difficulty, I am sending my children to school. If they are transferred elsewhere, I fear I cannot afford the transportation costs,” lamented Mohammad Ashfaq Ali, a parent. This was precisely the reason why the strength of the school had dropped from 350 last year to 300 this academic year. Even the teachers of the school are dubious over where they would be sent on deputation.

“This is a bad precedent, the school shouldn’t be razed. They should have made changes to the layout plan of the flyover. How many times the plans of other flyovers have changed why not this one,” questions Veerachary, president, Government Teachers’ Association. He added, “If they go on razing down schools for construction of flyovers and widening of roads, there will not be any schools (government) left.”

In this sorry state of affairs, the principal and the staff of the school are now ready to continue teaching even in makeshift classrooms.

“We had received the intimation about a year ago. Currently, we are searching for an alternative building to house the school. If we are unable to find one, we will shift students to schools nearby. We have sent a petition to the government to provide us with land for construction of school and we are awaiting a favourable reply,’ informed Somi Reddy, DEO Hyderabad.