Century Old Government School Is Staring At Closure

Blame it on teacher shortage, school admission is decreasing every year

- Prajna G R @ Madikeri

In one classroom, eight students from lower primary sections sat together—some on the floor mat amid the rainy weather—and were involved in studies. In another classroom, three students had finished their studies and were seen being playful. When asked how the studies are going on, one of the students said, "School is good but we have no teacher. Sometimes they come and teach, and the rest of the time, we are free."

This is the reality of the over 100-year-old Government Primary School in Surlabbi village of Kodagu. The institution currently has about 20 students from class 1 to class 7. The institution also has a high school section that has about 12 students.

However, the primary section has one guest teacher who reports to the institution every day even as two other teachers who have been deputed to the primary section from other government schools visit this school whenever time permits.