NRI funded school faces neglect

■  School was constructed with Rs 30 lakh donation

■  Teachers do not report to duty on time

■  From 120 students strength has fallen to 35

“The school was built by NRI Gande Pramod in memory of his father, Gande Shankar, before being handed over to the government.”

Metro India News | BHAINSA

A government high school built with a Rs 30 lakh donation from a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is facing allegations of poor administration, teacher absenteeism and declining academic standards. Villagers and parents claim that despite having a modern school building and adequate teaching staff, the institution has failed to provide quality education, leading to a steep fall in student enrolment and attendance.

The school, which serves students from Classes 6 to 10 from Poola, Suryapur, Medalpur, Ambugam and nearby villages, was built by NRI Gande Pramod in memory of his father, Gande Shankar, before being handed over to the government. Residents say the donor's intention was to improve educational opportunities in his native village.

However, villagers allege that the school has failed to live up to that vision because of poor management and a lack of commitment among the teaching staff. Although the school has seven teachers, only 35 students are currently enrolled, with daily attendance averaging around 25. Residents claim that only two teachers report to school on time regularly, while even the headmaster often arrives late.

According to villagers, students go directly to their classrooms each morning and wait for teachers instead of participating in the customary morning assembly. They say the school had nearly 120 students four years ago, but enrolment has since dropped sharply to 35, which they attribute to poor academic discipline and ineffective administration rather than demographic changes.

Demanding immediate intervention, villagers have urged district education authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry into the school's functioning and take corrective measures to restore academic standards and public confidence. They said the substantial contribution made by the NRI donor should not be undermined by administrative lapses and lack of teacher accountability.