Udyavara: Lower Primary School permanently closed

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udyavara, Udupi, 10 June 2011: Kannada medium Lower Primary School of Padukere, Udyavara which existed from pre Independence time is permanently closed on Monday. This school was established in 1940 by the local Darbar dynasty, and was called as Darbar School. Now, after a long journey, with the blow of English medium schools, diminished its existence and finally got ruffled and  came to an end.

 

Since the last 2 – 3 years no student has joined for the 1st standard. But 4th and 5th standards had 4 – 5 students, so in order not to have difficulties to those students the education department somehow continued the school. Even this year there is not even a single application for 1st standard. The students of 4th and 5th standard have passed and joined the other Higher Primary School for the further education. The school was opened on 01st June and waited for the applications for the new students until Monday for one week. But no signs of students joining are seen. Naturally the local residents did not show interest in admitting their children in this single teacher school, for the sake of their future.

 

Even though this school is from the pre Independence time it was not in any crumbling state. In 1990 MP Oscar Fernandes had got the concrete building constructed. Also 6 computers were provided for the students by the education department. Time to time the school was painted and the surroundings were kept neatly.

 

 

 

 

But one side of the school at a short distance there is sea and the other side there is a river flows. Sea erosion also causing worry to the people. Couple of kilometres away there is a English Medium School come into existence recently. All these are the reasons for the closure of the Darbar School.

 

Since the last 20 years Shekar from Mangalore has been the Headmaster of this School. While locking the school for the final time, the school which has given him bread all these years and in more than 70 years had provided foundation into the future of thousands of students, tears were flowing from the eyes of teacher Shekar.

 

Education Officer of the area Vasantha Shetty who had come to the place, expressed his helplessness. He took back the rice sent by the education department for Bisiyoota for this month and also the books which had arrived for the distribution of the students, and announced the closure of the school.

 

In last year about 7 Kannada medium schools have closed due to shortage of students. This time along with this Darbar school, in Udupi Taluk; Mithrabettu, Heranje, Pethri, in Karkala Taluk; Shivapura and Adipadi schools have already closed. More one or two schools are on the same path.

 

The situation of Kannada medium schools is such in Udupi District which is in top position in education, this symbolizes the overall situation of the medium in the state.