THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Call it a complete farce. This is precisely what a school here is upto - which has locked away hi-tech equipment, including computers and projectors in the storeroom - when government schools are being turned into hi-tech institutions. It is the Government Higher Secondary School (HSS) Ayirooppara, near Pothencode, which is the eye of a storm over the alleged decision to shift the classes to a desolate corner on the campus and bar the students from using computers, laptops and digital projectors.
Interestingly, Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has begun a massive audit to ensure the schools are fully utilising the facilities. According to the parents, the District Education Officer during a recent visit found the school did not comply with the rules. R Sivankutty Nair, the parent of a student, said the school authorities shifted the classroom to wreak vengeance on the class teacher of 9A. “The move also prevented the students from getting quality education.
It is a blatant violation of human rights and the students are being denied basic education. The government has spent several crore on setting up a hi-tech facility in schools. But here the school authorities have locked away the facilities. Though I approached the Education Department top brass, including the DPI, nothing came out of it and the students have not got justice,” he said.
Badarsaman, headmaster of the school, while refuting the charge said the equipment could not be installed in some classrooms owing to the unavailability of technicians who have expertise in installation. “There are some assigned people. Once the technicians shift it to the recently-constructed building, all students will be able to use the facilities. The school has not shown any discrimination,” he said. K V Mohan Kumar, DPI, told Express he is yet to receive any complaint in this regard.“ If a complaint is lodged, we will definitely take action against the school,” he said.