This story is from May 9, 2022

Karnataka: Rural schools slated for transformation in Dharwad

People in the villages across the state often complain about the poor standards of education in government schools, a condition for which they hold the government and the authorities responsible.
Karnataka: Rural schools slated for transformation in Dharwad
The plan entails construction of a compound wall around the school building, separate lavatories for boys and girls, and ensuring a playground and a dining hall
HUBBALLI: People in the villages across the state often complain about the poor standards of education in government schools, a condition for which they hold the government and the authorities responsible. However, the Dharwad zilla panchayat (ZP) has decided to tackle this problem at the grassroots. Having identified various schools in villages across Dharwad district that lack basic facilities, ZP has initiated a project wherein these institutions will be entirely transformed.

The plan entails construction of a compound wall around the school building, building separate lavatories for boys and girls, ensuring a playground and a dining hall. In addition to the playground, the schools will be provided sporting equipment to ensure overall development of the students’ personality. Renovation of these schools will be undertaken as part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The ZP hopes to attract more students to such schools, and increase enrolment in the upcoming academic year.
Dharwad ZP chief executive officer Suresh Itnal told TOI that the primary objective of the entire project to upgrade infrastructure in all the schools. “Building a well-equipped dining hall or bhojanalaya, and putting in place rainwater harvesting mechanism in each school is also part of the plan,” he said.
Although midday meals are served at all schools in the villages, the lack of a dedicated space for dining meant that they were unable to enjoy their lunch. Itnal said that the bhojanalaya would ensure that the students could partake of their meals in a healthy setup.
“These halls will be furnished with chairs and tables, and, based on the strength in each school, we estimate that it will cost us Rs 12 lakh to construct the bhojanalaya in every institution. In schools where the government has appointed a physical education teacher, we will develop fields for kho-kho, kabbadi and basketball courts,” Itnal said.
The ZP CEO said that physical education teachers would, if needed be trained, to ensure that the students pursued sports as seriously as they did their academics. “Work started at 140 schools across the district a fortnight ago, and we are hoping that it will be completed in a few months,” Itnal added.
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