The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Readmissions in schools under way

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Readmissions in schools under way

By Akhila Seetharaman

Students of Sri Krishna School, Kumbakonam, which was closed down after Friday's fire, being admitted to Sri Saraswathi Padasala Higher Secondary School in the town on Sunday. — Photo: K. Ganesan

KUMBAKONAM, JULY 18. With Sri Krishna School now closed down after Friday's fire, which claimed 90 lives, the process of admitting its students to other schools has begun. In a symbolic gesture, some of them were given admission in Saraswathi Padasala here, this morning, in the presence of two State Ministers and the District Collector.

Seven hundred and forty surviving students have to be accommodated in other schools in Kumbakonam town. And it is unlikely to be a problem, considering that managements of other schools have volunteered to take them in.

The State Education Minister, C.V.Shanmugam, told mediapersons here that 31 children were admitted to the Saraswathi Padasala High School on Saturday. Of the total 740 students, over 200 students were in the high school section (standards VI to X). They were given an option to join St.Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School. Both institutions are government-aided.

The Government planned to accommodate 400 students in the primary section (standards I to V) in four schools: St.Joseph Girls Higher Seccondary School, St.Joseph's Primary School, Panathurai Municipal Primary School and Saraswathi Padasala Primary School.

In the nursery section, 140 children would be absorbed by Sri Matha Matriculation School, A.R.R.Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Christuraja Matriculation Higher Secondary School.

Students were given the option of going to schools they prefer and principals were told not to demand transfer certificates. The Government waived the fees and supplied textbooks and notebooks free to all children. Schools would provide students with uniforms, S.Paramasivam, Director, School Education, said.

"We decided to make the re-admission process a high profile event to give parents and students confidence. A lot of them are shaken, understandably so, after the gruesome tragedy. They seem reluctant to trust schools," the District Collector J.Radhakrishnan, said. A team of psychiatrists and counsellors, sponsored by the Lions Club, was going from home to home to provide professional support, Dr.Radhakrishnan said.

Thatches being replaced

In keeping with the State-wide drive, the Thanjavur district administration has zeroed in on several government, aided, municipal and private schools using coconut fronds and straw for roofing.

"We are spreading out in teams throughout the district and within the next two or three days, we hope to bring down all thatches," Dr.Radhakrishnan said. Some money that came as donation would be used to help schools lay roof with alternative materials. Arrangements were made with banks to provide immediate loans to schools. "We have asked some schools to run on a shift system if they do not have adequate space once the thatched roofs are removed," Mr.Paramasivam added.

Fire drills would be conducted to give orientation to all school employees and fire-fighting equipment would be made available in all schools. The Collector urged philanthropists to contribute generously towards this.

Efforts were on to trace the teachers of Sri Krishna School, Dr.Radhakrishnan said in response to a question. All teachers had been missing since the fire, apparently fearing public wrath and criminal action.

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