Corporation yet to take over schools in Kannagi Nagar

While the administration of a higher secondary school, three primary schools and a community hall in these areas lies with the Kancheepuram Collectorate, the maintenance has been handed over to the Corporation. 

“Few months ago, a report on ‘Living conditions of people in the resettlement sites’ was submitted to the authorities highlighting that the quality of education was bad. We had recommended in the report that the schools be included into the GCC as the quality of education was on a decline due to prevalent confusion among the management. The authorities said that a government order would be passed soon. But no action has taken place so far,” says Vanessa Peter, citybased education activist and independent policy researcher with Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities. 

Admitting that the administration still lies with the District Education Officers and Chief Education Officer, Kannagi Nagar Councillor T C Karuna says, “It is up to the state Education Department to bring these schools into the ambit of corporation.” 

Karuna says the works being carried in these schools are done by the Corporation. “We are doing it for the benefit of 2,539 children studying here. Even if funds are allocated for a playground and classrooms, we have hurdles to get it done. Six months ago, we raised the compound wall, renovated toilets and even raised the height of few buildings. 

However, problems crop up in the decision-making,” she says. While Educational Officer of Greater Chennai Corporation Ranjani owed the confusion to government policies, a top school education official said that the Municipal Administration Department will soon take a call in the matter.