Dammaiguda ZPHS cries for attention

For 870 students road is the toilet

Government schools are known victims of neglect by bureaucracy. But, the Dammaiguda ZPHS stands out as the ultimate example of official callousness. Despite the need to serve over 870 students, the co-ed school does not have a toilet which is mandatory as per a Supreme Court directive

As the state government blows its own trumpet about providing quality education, many schools are crying for attention. A case in point is the Zilla Parishad High School in Dammaiguda, Ranga Reddy, which doesn’t have a single toilet and the more than 800 students spread out on to the road outside to ease themselves.

The Dammaiguda ZPHS School, which serves 600 students of upper primary (high school) Class VI to Class X as well as 270 students of Central Primary School, has only 10 classrooms, one staff room, one computer room and one office room.

As soon as the bell rings for the lunch hour at 12.30 pm, children of primary school bolt out of their classrooms and assemble on the school ground, where students of high school also gather for lunch. "We have a tough time in managing the children and arranging mid-day meal for them. The place is much cluttered, causing serious inconveniences to students. Sometimes they don't even have proper meal for the day. It really pains us," rues a teacher.

Appalling conditions

One of the major problems plaguing the school is woeful lack of toilets. This has been the case right from its inception. Girl students go to other end of the street for attending nature call and that place is an open ground.

A resident of the area queries: "It is all right with small children attending nature call on the street, but what about the high school students, who cares for their plight?"

That being the case with girls, the plight of boys is worse. Students of both primary and high school pass urine on the street, which is linear to the school, causing inconvenience to residents along the street.

Sanjeev Reddy, a resident near the school, rues that there has been no response from the officials even after lodging several complaints. "Ask anyone who commutes in the street daily, the stench forces everyone to close their nose until they pass through the entire stretch".

Reflecting the height of callousness of officials, six months ago the construction of toilets began right above the kitchen (where mid-day meal items are prepared), which is on the ground floor. The construction was stopped when villagers, including children opposed it.

An elderly village asked: "We cannot use them because it is risky for primary school children. How can students concentrate on studies when there is stench from toilets and bathrooms adjoining their classrooms?"

A Class X student revealed that would prefer not to drink water till 5.00 pm. He drinks water only after going to tuition.

The school has no sweeper or night watchman. Coming to the strength of students in Class X, about 40 English medium and 60 Telugu medium students are struggling with their studies due to lack of lab facilities for their practicals. Above all, the school has no playground. Teachers are unable to conduct extra-curricular activities for students.

No water

There is no drinking water facility for students in the school. A water filter was fitted in the Dammaiguda school, along with the one in the Kushaiguda ZPHS last summer by accessing MP funds. The works were stopped abruptly. "Works worth about Rs 2.5 lakh were stopped in the middle and no official has turned up since last summer till date," says a high school teacher.

When contacted, Rangareddy District Education Officer (DEO) Somireddy said that he would visit the school in a couple of days and look into the problems.