School run at temple set to get new buildings with civic funds

The school, which was started 75 years ago at Madettupalli village in Modikuppam panchayat, has 30 students, including 18 girls.

When the school was started, it was functioning with roof woven out of coconut fronds. Later in 1967, it was replaced with concrete ceiling. That was the last time any renovation or maintenance work was undertaken in the school.

After repeated representations about the school’s dilapidated condition, which was posing threat to lives of students, from residents to panchayat officials, the structure was demolished 10 months ago. While the noon meal centre was functioning from the same old premises, the school was shifted to the nearby Gangaiamman temple. After several petitions to the officials of the district administration demanding the construction of a new building for the school failed to evoke any response, several activists from the region decided to submit petition to the School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan seeking his support forthe institution.

Getting wind of the activists’ plan to approach the School Education Minister, the Vellore School Department officials woke up to the problem of the school and issued necessary orders.

“After the Vellore School Department swung into action, the local panchayat for its part sanctioned funds. Tenders are expected to be floated soon for the construction of a new building for the school,” Vellore Chief Educational Officer S Marstold DT Next.

“The work, which includes construction of two classrooms, is likely to be completed before the end of March next year. The new classrooms will be equipped with all modern facilities and by this way the school is set to get a complete makeover,”he added.