JOIN USSoliga kids have a zinc shed for school
The zinc-sheet structure nestling in a thick jungle dotted with huts few and far between is actually a school. The sweet sound of bright-eyed Soliga tribal children reciting Kannada alphabet at the ‘school’ at Monakaipodi gives one a strange feel.
If only the Department of Education had acted with sincerity, Monakaipodi could have had its own Government Primary School by now, instead of the ramshackle shed. The strict rules that govern construction activity in the tiger reserve are an excuse trotted out by the Education department officials as to why the children have a shed for school. A residential school is located at Bedaguli, three km from Monakaipodi, but parents are reluctant to send their children who have to risk a trek through the jungle. In the bargain, the children have suffered.
Argument continues
The Forest officials, who would like the Soligas to move out of the tiger reserve, cite the problems of schooling the children as one more reason for the tribals to move out. But their motives are less than charitable. The tribals, not as gullible as before, have consistently refused to be relocated from the BR Hills, their home for ages. The recently passed Forest Rights Act has only strengthened the tribal communities’ rights over forest land.
However, caught in the crossfire are the Soliga children, whose education has been grossly affected until now. But in order to bridge the education gap, every year, an NGO was allowed to open up a school at Monakaipodi. However, now the Department of Education has permitted the Tribals and Rural Development Organisation to start a residential school at Monakaipodi.
Parivartana, a residential school, which was started in the region, has been imparting education to the tribal children.
At present, as many as 22 children are receiving education at the school.K N Mahesh, who studied at the school, is now a full-time teacher.
The children are provided with uniform, food, snacks and learning materials at the school. But the school remains closed during the months of June and July. This severely affects the learning of students, said Mahesh.
As the Department of Public Instruction provides monetary assistance for only ten months in a year, the NGO in charge of it shuts the school for two months, he added.
Two months of no school only draws the attention of the tribal children towards the forests. And once the school reopens, the children have to re-learn almost everything taught throughout the year, laments Mahesh.
“The opening of the school at Monakaipodi is heartening. If only the children are taught through the year, their learning will improve greatly,” said Monakaipodi leader Made Gowda.