Hyderabad: Improved economic status should cheer everyone. But some in the Government seem to be none to pleased with this scenario. It is, in fact, spelling trouble to Government schools in the city. Many a family which has come out of the bad patch is turning its back on the Government schools. With more money at their disposal, parents are now inclined to send their wards to private schools.

This peculiar situation has arisen particularly in slums where increased earnings is making people have second thoughts about Government schools.

Also development of several `bastis' into prime areas is adding to the Government's woes. Last year, the School Education Department relocated 65 Government schools as there were no takers. In some schools, the strength dipped to single digit.

Between Gandhi Bhavan to Bazar Guard, there are six Government schools with depleted strength. A primary school had to be shifted from Khairatabad to Krishnagar in Amberpet as the area became prime and people's preferences changed in favour of private schools, it is said.

This year the axe is going to fall on five more schools. Orders have already been issued for relocating the schools. The Government Boys High School, Nampally, is being shifted to Borabanda, the Government St. Peters School opposite L.B. Stadium to Hyderguda, Government Girls High School, Gowliguda to N.B.T. Nagar in Banjara Hills, Government Girls High School, Shahlibanda to Sultan Shahi and the Government Boys High School, Himayatnagar situated at Kachiguda Chowrasta to Central Police Lines Grounds, Amberpet. Come June and these schools will function from new premises.

Urdu medium schools

Interestingly, Urdu medium schools are doing quite well contrary to their general image. Of the 805 Government schools in the city, more than half - 407 to be precise - are those imparting education through Urdu medium. Their strength is also much better (73,700) than the total strength of 1,35,345 in all schools.

A recent survey done by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has brought out interesting details. The number of school-going girls is more than boys. The total number of girls enrolled are 46,301 as against 27,399 boys. This strange phenomenon is due to gender discrimination. Parents who have both, a daughter and son, and couldn't afford to get them educated at a private school, preferred to send the boy to a private school. This explains the increased enrolment of girls in Government schools, says SSA joint director, B. Manmadha Reddy.

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