Principal- Kalugala MMV, Galewela, T.B. Tennekone said that, following the Sunday Times news item, an engineer from a private institute in Colombo had assured him of help to renovate the school, through a donation of Rs 3 lakhs for the purpose.
The Sunday Times story described the lack of class rooms and how students were forced to study either in a ramshackle wooden room or under trees in the school premises.
Nalin Pieris, an engineer, is making arrangements to reconstruct the building.
However, parents are not satisfied, as responsible authorities have not taken any steps to provide basic amenities to the school. Parents said it was with the arrival of the present principal, the school, which had only primary classes was extended to Grade 10.
The school now has 190 students, with 84 female students.
Yet there is only one lady teacher.
This alone shows the indifference shown by authorities towards this area parents said.
A resident, Renuka Chandrani said, “With so many female students, the school has no washroom, which means there is no privacy for the girls.
If the solitary female teacher goes on leave, the female students are in a desperate situation she added.
The lack of a staff room is one reason why many teachers leave on transfer , soon after joining the school.
J.M. Tikiribanda a farmer and parent, said the school had been neglected by authorities since 1994, resulting in many children dropping out of school.
With the help of the parents, the incumbent principal made the class rooms fromGrades 5 to 10. The school has no science laboratory he added.
Another parent said results obtained at the Grade 5 scholarship exam were very poor, as there were no qualified teachers to coach the students. She added the lack of a playground continued despite the school performing well at district athletic events.
She requested the Minister to visit the school, as he is reported to have visited schools which did not have basic facilities.
The principal calls on philanthropists to come to the aid of this school, by contacting him on telephone numbers: 0777 453 065 or 0718 413 243. |
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