VISAKHAPATNAM: It was once a reputed school where a parent has to get the district collector’s recommendation letter to admit his child in it. But now, the situation has turned upside down due to the lack of students, teachers and many more problems. One of the oldest schools in the port city with more than 120 years of history, St. Anthony’s High School at Maharanipeta cries for attention.
Due to the lack of adequate facilities and scores of other problems, the management is forced to refuse new admissions. Established in the year 1893 and recognised as government-aided school in 1923, it was run successfully in the past. After the state government’s amendment over paying salaries of the teachers in aided schools in the year 1996, there has been no recruitment of faculty since then. Out of the sanctioned strength of 34 teachers, it has just 12 at present. To meet the requirement, the management has temporarily arranged 13 graduates as ‘guest’ teachers at a salary of Rs 3,000 for completing the syllabus.
Due to the shortage of teachers, the teachers are combining all sections of various classes. Moreover, the guest teachers are unable to control the students.
In the past, the school had around 1,600 students but now it’s strength has dropped to 672. Many classrooms do not have ceiling fans and the library does not have adequate number of books. The condition of the school ground is no different with mounds of discarded materials littered all over it.
The mushrooming of English medium corporate schools is another factor that is contributing to the school’s dwindling strength.
Principal of the school K Prakash said that discipline is the hallmark of his school. “We are trying to make the parents understand the prevailing conditions. With the minimum faculty, the school has achieved a pass percentage of 80 in the academic year 2013-14,” he added.
Earlier, the school had some of the best teachers in the state. They include Kalipatnam Rama Rao, P Mariya Das, G Sitaram Murthy and K V Ramalingam. The classrooms were very spacious.
The school has produced some of the finest students who include Plastic Surgery HoD at the King George’s Hospital (KGH) B V Sudhakar and ADCP (Spl Branch) BV Ravi Kumar. Some old students have also come forward to support the school.
Says renowned dermatologist and alumnus of St Anthony’s High School K G H K Raghurama Rao: “At the recent alumni meet, the issue of staff shortage has come to my notice. We shall discuss these issues with the district collector soon. Alumni are also coming forward to help.”
ADCP (Spl Branch) Visakhapatnam B V Ravi Kumar, another old student of St. Anthony’s High School, says: “This school was known for discipline. Its present condition is hard to digest. If the government also comes forward, it would be helpful to many children from marginalised sections of the society.”
