Curtains down on historic Lakshmipuram school

This 94-year-old school which had a glorious past is ‘temporarily closed down’ for want of students. Two teachers working there have been transferred to other schools.

Deputy director, Department of Public Instructions, B Nagendra Kumar told Deccan Herald that the department had no option except closing down this school temporarily for the current academic year for want of students.

At the time of closing down there were only five students and two teachers. Those students have been admitted to other government school.

In fact, the department did a lot of things to improve enrollment of students in this school but failed in its endeavour. Now the school has been locked and a security guard has been posted.

The DDPI said the department will watch for another two years and then close down the school permanently, if number of students does not improve.

If that happens, the school will not celebrate its centenary year. “We are also feeling bad to close this school as this has been alma mater of great personalities who are settled both in India and abroad. It has a rich legacy and had been the temple of knowledge for many decades.However, it lost its importance due to mushrooming of private schools.

“In the current situation it is very difficult to change people’s mind set. Everybody wants their wards to be study in private schools and are ready to pay any amount as donation and fees. The general feeling among people is that the government schools are meant for lower strata of society,”he said

Some of the alumni of this institutions include the most talented ‘camera craftsman’ who created some golden moments of Indian cinema, Dada Saheb Phalke awardee V K Murthy, MP H Vishwanath, former mayor Purushottam.

Recently, this paper had written about the education department’s plans to close down the school. At that time, Vishwanath had promised that he would make an attempt to revive the school. But none of the alumni took interest in giving a fresh lease of life to this great institution.