Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

65 schools ordered to remove thatched roofs

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, JULY 19. There are 65 schools in the district have thatched roofs, and the managements have been ordered to replace them with fire-proof structures by July 30, the Collector, D. Raajendiran, said today.

He told presspersons here that there were 208 high and higher secondary schools in the district, of which nine, including seven government and two private schools, functioned under thatched roofs. Of the 167 Matriculation schools, 12 functioned under thatched roofs, and 44 among the 1,485 primary schools had thatched roofs.

The administration also sought compliance reports from all 65 schools by July 30. The schools would be de-recognised, if they failed to comply with the directive. The administration would utilise the money sanctioned under the MP and MLA Constituency Development Funds for replacing the thatched roofs with non-flammable structures in the government schools.

Claiming that funds would not be a constraint, Mr. Raajendiran said Rs.4,000 to Rs.7,000 could be provided under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. The Parent-Teachers' Association (PTA) would also be involved in this process. As to private schools, the management should bear the expenditure. He said the private school managements should not impose any financial burden on students or parents to meet the cost of putting up the non-inflammable structures, the Collector said.

A high-level committee, comprising the Collector, the Chief Educational Officer and officials of the Revenue and Education Departments, would inspect the schools and verify whether the roofs had been replaced or not. The Revenue Department officials had been instructed to furnish, within two days, a list of schools with photographs where the roofs ought to be replaced.

Mr. Raajendiran said the administration would consider the idea of training teachers and students in fire safety.

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• Thousands pay homage
• Power shutdown
• 65 schools ordered to remove thatched roofs
• Inspection begins
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• DMK councillor held
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