Reports say that there has been a drastic drop in number of students being admitted to government schools in Arakkonam. It also says that the first standard classes are often left with no children. A survey is being done to check the issue with admissions in government schools.
An elementary school in Arakkonam has only four students. Excluding them, a Principal, teacher, nutrition organizer, cook and an assistant cook are present in this school. Reports say that very few children are admitted in government schools in Arakkonam and the first standard classes are often left with no children.
This particular school is situated in Kirubilspet, behind an MLA’s office. Earlier people used to call it as banyan school. There were times when a maximum of 250 students were admitted in this school. Now, it is saddening to know that only four students are studying here. Once this school had three buildings, but now two of those buildings are reserved for Employment and Training departments.
In another building, two classrooms are allocated for the elementary and Panchayat Urdu School respectively. A count of 10 students is registered in the school attendance, but only four students are being regular to the classes. Whereas the Adidravidar School, which is situated just 500 meters away from this school is said to have above 50 students from Class 1 to Class 8. It raises questions about the poor admission rate in this elementary school.
When asked about this to the Principal-Selvaraj, he said, “The wards 34, 35, 36 are reserved for this school. It is a government rule that the parents should admit their children in their respective wards, but the children are getting admitted in schools belonging to different wards. We are not responsible for this.”
When asked about Selvaraj’s claim, the Assistant Education Officer of Arakkonam, Palraj, said, “The admission rate has dropped from 5,327 to 5,071 in one academic year. A research to find the reasons is being carried out. We are taking initiatives to bring the students from the private schools. Since both the Adidravidar School and this Panchayat Elementary schools are situated close to each other, one school gets more admission than the other.”
The social activists are demanding the attention of the government to look into this issue.
