Masti school bereft of building, staff

Tussle between elected representatives said to be delaying finalisation of site

The State Government opened the school for students of sixth to tenth standards at Masti in Malur taluk during 2006-07. A Rs 7.5-cr plan was drawn for the school building and a sum of Rs 1.5 cr was released also. However, the amount is lying unutilised in the bank account of the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. A site for the building is yet to be identified.

The inadequacies do not stop here. The residential school is housed in the Government Higher Primary School and hence, the students have no place to keep their belongings. They have to keep them in the classrooms itself. The toilets constructed by Nirmiti Kendra at a cost of Rs three lakh too have not been completed. Lack of toilet has put the students, particularly girls, to hardship. Thus the non-availability of facilities have made a lyrical mockery of the school as a residential one.

Full time staff
The school neither has a full-time warden and teachers. The headmaster of the Higher Primary School has been given the additional charge of the residential school as well. Thus, the HM is compelled to shoulder both the responsibilities and his plea to relieve him is yet to be answered.

It is said that the tiff between Malur legislator S N Krishnaiah Setty and Zilla Panchayat member Ramegowda is said to have been delaying identification of a site for the school building.

Two sites were identified for the school - one a government land on Varadapura road and another a private land on Dinnahalli road. While the legislator shows one location, the ZP member insists to construct the building at another location. The tussle between the two has deprived basic amenities to the students of residential school, a officer, who wished to be unnamed told Deccan Herald.

Admission
There are 32 students in seventh standard, 46 in eighth standard, only 12 in ninth standard. Admissions have begun for sixth standard and the intake is restricted to 50.
Thus, the primary objective of setting up the school in memory of the litterateur has been defeated. The personality clash between the elected representatives has denied a learning opportunity to the rural students. Needless to say, it is imperative for the public representatives work in the interest of public.