THREE-RING CIRCUS: Three classes being conducted in a tiny room at a Government school in Kokakitatti of the old city . - Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Hyderabad: Kokakitatti. It's a nondescript place in the old city. But it has its share of glory - rather dubious distinction. This place boasts of the largest number of Government schools in the space of a few square feet. More than 1,000 children and seven schools, all under one roof.

Statistics tell a sordid tale of official apathy. After inspecting some of the schools in the old city in August 2004, School Education Minister N. Rajyalakshmi declared that all schools in the city would be brought under the general shift. But the two-shift system continues to flourish. The Kokakitatti school is a classic example of being home to seven different institutions.

Double take

This place is easy to locate. Just go to Puranapul and ask for Peeli Phatak and anybody would guide you there. One look and you will do a double take. Like medals adorning a lieutenant's uniform, the school signboards hang on the wall. Government High School, Petla Burj, Government Boys Primary School, Petla Burj, Government Boys Primary School Urdu Shariff, Government High School, Charmahal, Government Primary School, Charmahal, Government Girls Primary School, Moosa Bowli and Government Primary School, Kasaratta.

Not long ago, this premises also had the Government Primary School, Khokerwadi and Government Boys Primary School, Babry Alawa. But they have now been shifted. Before that, this building had the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan's Urdu residential bridge school. If your head is reeling after reading this, it is understandable. But the poor teachers have to put up with this `circus' day after day.

Interestingly, these seven schools landed here seven months ago. "The MCH served notices on schools with dilapidated buildings and we were forced to shift," says a teacher. But what beats the imagination is how all of them found their way into one building.

Paucity of space

Former Mayor Mir Zulfekhar Ali, who owns the building, gets a princely amount as rent, it is said.

While three schools function in the morning shift, four run in the afternoon. Paucity of space and teachers is obvious. One can see three classes of the Government Boys Primary School, Petla Burj, operating from one tiny room. "It is a great disturbance to both the students and teachers," says Mehrunnisa, in-charge headmistress. Each school has at least two to three teachers short. "We ask the children to go and play when there is none to handle the class," says a teacher. Drinking water and toilets are also in short supply. "There is a toilet in the high school, but we are not allowed to use it," says a student.

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