Karnataka: Teachers team up to paint govt schools in Koppal

KOPPAL: The debate for opening schools amid fears of a potential third wave of Covid is on but a group of teachers in Koppal is losing no time in prepping for a bright start. Ten of them have been painting government lower primary schools on the last Sunday of every month, with the motto: ‘Shaale Nimmadu Seve Nammadu’ (school is yours, service is ours).
“As the government school has nourished us as students and is now taking care of us as teachers, this is our bit for schools.Our initiative is aimed at attracting students to lower primary school, which is left without students for more than a year due to the pandemic,” said Suresh Kambali, a cluster resource person in the education department.
Under the banner ‘Kalarava Shikshakara Seva Balaga’, the teachers have been visiting schools every month, spending from their pocket to buy paint, and turning painters as well. Beerappa Andagi, Kashinath Sirigeri, Sharanappa Radder and other team members say the Balaga is a collective effort and there are no posts. “We take two cars and go to the school on the morning of the last Sunday. We have painted two lower primacy schools in the past two months and have notified 20 schools in Koppal taluk,” said
Other members of the group are Chandrashekhar Helavar, Hanumantappa Kuri, Hulugappa Bhajantri, Annappa Halli, Mallappa Gudadannavar and R Guruswami. They say the paint costs Rs 30,000-40,000 per school.
Koppal ZP CEO B Fouzia Taranum said, “The initiative touched my heart; some physically challenged teachers are also part of the campaign.”