BELAGAVI: The curious case of Chintamanrao High School (CHS), is that despite being one of the oldest and most hi-tech government schools in Belagavi, it is struggling to survive due to a dearth of students in its Marathi and Urdu discourse classes. The school has entered its 100th year of existence but sadly its legacy may soon be lost.Established in the year 1907, CHS was initially an English medium primary school. However in the year 1921, it commenced discourse in Marathi medium. Gradually English disappeared from the school. In 1948, it turned into an high school and in 1964 started its Kannada discourse and Urdu in 1980, all in the same premises.
School faculty said, CHS had a good number of students in all the three mediums. But gradually, the number of students in Marathi and Urdu medium dwindled. At present, in standard eight, the school has 24 Kannada medium students and none in either Marathi or Urdu courses. In standard nine, Kannada studying students stand at 72, none for Marathi and Urdu has 20 children. In standard 10, there are just 3 students in Marathi medium, 20 students in Urdu medium and 75 students in Kannada medium.
CHS has three teachers each for Marathi and 12 teachers for Kannada medium. Apart from them, it recruits 4 peons and 2 clerks.CHS had been one of the most neglected government schools in the city. And it was with the united efforts of its alumni, batch of 1983-85 that the school was able to update itself. The group members invested money from their own pockets. Leading was Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil, who managed to get funds from government and from his MLA fund.Speaking to the Express, Patil recalled that when he had approached his classmates, they whole-heartedly took up the developmental work of their school.