Kozhikode: A government school closed down for 15 years for lack of students is now slowly limping back to life. The government tribal LP school at Attathod, Pathanamthitta dsitrict, has admitted 17 students in class one, taking the total number of students to 72---thanks to Pathanamthitta district child protection unit (DCPU), Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) and Perinad grama panchayat. Over 90 per cent of the students are from the tribal community and much effort was taken to bring them to the school once it reopened in 2015. “In 2015-16, the total strength was 36. It rose to 52 last year and 72 this time. They include sixth standard students also for which the approval is still pending,” says Pathanamthitta DCPO, A.O. Abeen.
The authorities are waiting to get approval for class 6. Otherwise, the students are likely to discontinue the studies, because the other nearby school is 32 km away. Food three times plus jeep service for their travel are given to the students, he said. The major problem was that students do not return to the school after vacation. DCPU officials, teachers and grama panchayat members visited the colonies to buck the trend. The children along with parents were taken to Thiruvananthapuram for a trip, ‘Kaatil Ninnum Naatilek’ to woo them. “We arranged a 12-day camp, both at Attathod and Moozhiyar areas in the recent vacation meant for children for Attathod school and that of Moozhiyar govt UP school at Seethathod grama panchayat. All students who attended the camp are now school-going,” Mr Abeen said.
During the camp, children were taught the importance of taking bath daily and personal hygiene. “The situation has changed in a big way now. Earlier, we could not expect a child to return to the class on Monday after the weekend break,” says headmaster K. John Philip. The strength at Moozhiyar govt UP school has also increased to 32 this time. But the vacancies for five teaching posts still remain unfilled.
