People who had seen a government school in shambles a few months back, lacking adequate infrastructure and low attendance among students, are now amazed by its transformation.
This is the Hirehalli government higher primary school situated in Uridigere, Tumakuru rural constituency. The people of the village who cribbed about the dilapidated school building, now talk of it with pride and are competing to admit their children there.
The change has occurred mainly because of Tumakuru rural constituency MLA B Suresh Gowda's initiative. The 88-year-old school which has now been renovated, is on a par with any other private school in its category.
Gowda had planned a renovation of the school at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. Having spent Rs 1.20 crore, currently 10 classrooms are ready (five on the ground floor and five on the first floor).
A library, computer lab are ready and 30 computers have been installed.
The school is sight for sore eyes; a gift to the students of the school, on the occasion of its diamond jubilee.
The library is complete with seating, books, including those on personality development and general knowledge.
The computer science teacher's salary will be paid out of the MLA constituency development funds, according to the in-charge headmistress Nagamani.
Before renovation
This school had four classrooms earlier, which accommodated standard one to seven. It had an attendance of 400 students 20 years ago and now has 127. All this is as a result of the opening of five private schools in the vicinity where parents prefer to send their children.
After renovation
Red marble has been used in the spacious classrooms. There is a lot of air and light. the classroom design aids learning. The parents are pressing the school authorities to open kindergarten-upto-10th standard classes.
The school authorities said that they will begin kindergarten and standard eight from this academic year only.
Alumnus of the school Jagadish of Kamprad Industries, a donor for the school renovation, said that he was pained to see his school in a dilapidated condition for several years.
"When I approached the MLA Suresh Gowda with a request to renovate the school, he was very enthusiastic. The groundbreaking was done in August 2017 and the construction completed in six months," he averred.
Vital statistics
Rural MLA funds--Rs 70 lakh
Kamprad Industries CSR donation--₹ 40 ಲಕà³à²·
Number of new classrooms- -10