Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Model school for Kaarapakkam

K.Manikandan

Indoor auditorium, stadium, and libraries planned

TAKING SHAPE: Construction work on the "model government school" in Kaarapakkam in progress. — Photo: K.Manikandan

TAMBARAM : Well-designed classrooms, fully equipped libraries and science laboratories, indoor auditoriums and a full-fledged sports stadium on a 20-acre site.

This is not about boarding schools tucked away in hill stations or private schools in the cities.

A village panchayat just outside the city limits plans to build this "model government school" in a couple of years.

The Kaarapakkam village panchayat has begun preliminary work on the Government High School on a site off Old Mamallapuram Road. At present, the high school is functioning from the premises of the middle school and for some years now, the village panchayat and the State Education Department were under pressure to construct separate buildings to house the high school sections.

Recently, the Kancheepuram district administration allotted 10 acres for the school to be built. A sum of Rs. 12.90 lakh was allotted under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for constructing six classrooms.

During the `grama sabhas' (village councils) and at the routine meetings of the elected representatives of the village panchayat, one of the issues raised was the status of the high school and how soon it would be built, according to officials of the District Rural Development Agency.

Village panchayat authorities, members of the Parents-Teachers Association, voluntary organisations and even a corporate house in Kaarapakkam joined hands to take the initiative for developing it as a model school. The group felt that six classrooms would be barely sufficient to meet the growing requirements in future and hence decided to build a full-fledged school with 24 classrooms.

Not stopping with that, proposals were also made to construct auditorium and libraries equipped with books and educational aids and science laboratories with necessary equipment. Following representations from the panchayat, the State government also allotted 20-acres so that a stadium could be constructed near the school premises.

The school and its facilities on the 30-acre site would cost Rs. 1.50 crore. The proposal would also be beneficial when the high school receives higher secondary school status in future. Apart from Rs. 12.90 lakh sanctioned through the SSA, philanthropists in Kaarapakkam have already pledged to donate Rs. 25 lakh. A corporate house has also come forward to give Rs. 20 lakh.

Panchayat authorities said they were hopeful of raising the balance amount through fund-raisers.

Senior officials of the Education Department said the allocation was made depending on each school's needs.

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