Schools reopen in Kodagu today, classes to be held in relief camps as well

BENGALURU: Hundreds of children are returning to school on Thursday two weeks after heavy rain battered Kodagu district, flooding homes, sweeping away coffee estates and damaging several buildings.
More than 239 of the district’s 300 schools are expected to reopen, while some students of 61 schools will be accommodated in nearby schools or at relief camps.The reopening of schools indicates an important step towards normalcy in the district where many families are still holed up in relief centres, relatives’ houses, home stays or in the community halls.
The district administration is trying to get a handle on how many students were left homeless by the monsoon fury.
Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said he has issued directives to re-open all schools, except those 61 which have been either partially or completely damaged. He has asked the district administration to conduct classes for displaced children at relief camps by organizing five lakh textbooks. “The textbooks have already been dispatched to the district for distribution,” the CM said.
Nearby schools to admit kids
The state education department has also chalked out an elaborate plan to help students make up for the lost days. Deputing affected students to nearby schools that have suffered no damage and holding classes for others in rehabilitation camps itself by teachers drawn from Kodagu as well as nearby districts are the mainstays of the plan.
“We’ve identified 51 rehabilitation centres where we can hold classes,” Walter D’ Mello, deputy director of public instructions, Kodagu, said.
The department has identified nine government primary schools which need to be reconstructed and there are about 76 schools which need minor repairs. Over 500 students have been affected. “Till the schools are repaired, students will be admitted to nearby government schools which are in good condition or will study at rehabilitation camps,” said an education department official.
Duplicate marksheets
The Pre-University Education department will ask colleges in the affected areas to cooperate with students and help them in getting duplicate marksheets.
“We’ll ask colleges to issue duplicate marksheets to those who have lost them. We’ll also conduct extra classes for them,” C Shikha, director PUE department, said.
The department of collegiate education will also follow suit. The All India Democratic Students Organization is collecting books and textbooks from donors to reach out to the affected.
Hot water for victims
The CM has directed district minister Sa Ra Mahesh and Kodagu DC Srividya to ensure gas geysers at relief camps for inmates. He has also asked them to assess the damage to houses and crops. The transport department has been asked to ensure uninterrupted bus services. The public works department will reinforce the roads in the ghat region with sand bags to avoid immediate landslides .