SSA to open free residential schools to avoid dropouts

Poverty, distance, family problems, difficult traveling conditions due to geographical limitations are some of the many reasons why children drop from schools.

However, the State government under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is all set to avoid school dropouts by opening free residential schools which provide all-round development along with studies in various parts of the State.

As per the Right to Education Act, as many as five residential schools are set to come up in Bangalore South, Dharwad, Mysore, Shimoga and Dakshina Kannada on the lines of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGVB) model.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, SSA DK District Coordinator N Shivaprakash said  that the residential school will be established in Belthangady as it is a Endosulfan and naxal prone region. The school will start off on temporary basis within 15 days at Government Higher Primary School in Belthangady.

However, the residential hostel will be constructed in the campus of the same school, due to the availability of one acre land.

The toilets will be constructed first in the school campus and Rs 4.8 lakhs has been allotted for the purpose. The building will be constructed at the cost of Rs 55 lakhs and the budget will be allotted in 2012-13, said Shivprakash and added that Rs 41.32 lakhs will be allotted for other amenities.

As many as seven children have been identified, who are interested in joining the school this year. The children will be accommodated in the vacant rooms present in the school. The new building will be able to accommodate 100 students. “We have been directed to enrol students studying in classes 6 to 8,” said Shivprakash.

An in-house warden will be appointed. The government plans to spend approximately Rs 40,000 on each child per year. A doctor will be appointed on consultancy basis, he s

All-round development
The residential school will not be limited to studies. The government will allot funds for purchase of bi-cycles so that children can learn riding. Children will also be trained in singing, karate, yoga, swimming, theatre, dance and other skills.

The children will also be taken to NIITs to learn various courses which will help them in learning maths.

Arrangements will be made to teach the students Kannada, English and Sanskrit, he said and added that the students will have a library and will be given training in using computers.
Provisions will be made to have at least three vocational training courses such as stitching, preparing candles, repairing electrical appliances, computer hardware training and others.

Transit homes
“The SSA has started temporary transit homes for children at Prajna Counseling Centre. The permanent home will come up at Kapikad and will counsel orphans, child labours and other children in need. With residential schools, we can mainstream these children into the portals of school, hence giving them a good future,” he said. “The residential schools will enhance the social, psychological and educational concept. It will develop students’ personality, making them better citizens of tommorrow,” said DK ZP CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash.