Villagers save government school in Vittal from closure

The villagers, old students and local organisations saved the Government Kannada Medium School near Vittal from closing down.

After the facilities, including a school vehicle, was introduced, the school has seen much development.

The Kulalu Government Model Higher Primary School at Kolnadu, Bantwal taluk, was started in 1930 under the leadership of freedom fighter Annappa Bhandary.

During the diamond jubilee celebrations of the school, a kalamandira was constructed in the school in the memory of Halthota Narayana Bhat.

The school that survived all these years, started facing competitions from private schools. As a result, the number of students in the school declined from 300 to 75 in 2015-16. The school had only one teacher, Udaykumar, to manage from class 1 to 8 and the school was on the verge of closure.

At this juncture, Varahi Yuva Vrinda, a youth organisation, and the villagers came forward to save the school from closure. A vehicle was handed over to the school by the villagers. It was Varahi Yuva Vrinda that invested money for the vehicle.

Further, the school appealed to Satya Sai Loka Seva to supply breakfast to the children. The Shala Hitharakshana Samithi has been constituted for the betterment of the school. As the classes are held in the old school buildings, the school has placed a demand for a new building. Senior teacher K P Moolya said, “The love for English medium school resulted in the dwindling of children in the school. Now, the school is on the path of development. The school vehicle will definitely benefit the children.”

Varahi Sangha honorary president Subhashchandra Shetty Kulalu said, “The school was on the verge of closure three years ago. Even the parents were seeking transfer certificates of their wards to admit them into other schools. The Varahi Vrinda members purchased a vehicle to ferry the students.”