Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Wanted: Students for schools

R. Sundaram

THE LONER: The only student right now at Panchayat Union Elementary School at Venkitampalayam near Chennimalai. - PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

ERODE: Have you ever heard of a school with just two students? Yes, there is one here. Panchayat Union Elementary School at Venkitampalayam, a remote village under Chennimalai Panchayat Union, has its own building, a noon meal centre with a cook and even a noon meal organiser. All for two students!

Till a few years ago, villagers from even neighbouring Thaneerpandalpalayam and Velampalayam admitted their students in this school. However, after a matriculation school was opened at Thaneerpandalapalayam two years ago, the number at the elementary school plummeted, say villagers.

Officials of the education department said last year the school had seven students. A survey this year showed that though there were 14 boys in the age group of six and 11 in these three villages, none had joined the school in the last two years.

The school that was opened in 1966 now has a teacher for Class II student Sanjai and Class III student Suria. In fact, the latter has been absent for the last 10 days owing to fever and the cook has been preparing food for just Sanjai alone!

Their parents say that if the school is closed, they will have to detain the children at home as they cannot send them elsewhere.

Officials of the education department say motivation programmes were conducted on the importance of education and students were admitted into schools. The Government spends Rs. 350 on each elementary schoolstudent. But without adequate strength, running the school will be difficult, as in the case of Venkitampalayam.

The case is not isolated.

Panchayat Elementary School at Ellai Kumarapalayam has only five students. The villagers told The Hindu on Monday that the school had produced many computer engineers and graduates.

Officials of the education department say the school has no student despite all infrastructure - including a noon meal centre. Similarly, the strength of schools at Mettur and Karaithottam is in single digit.

Efforts are on to increase the strength by bringing students from neighbouring areas.

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