Around 270 students get schooled everyday at the institution in Tamil and Urdu. The school runs on two shifts with the support of eight teachers and no support staff. Out of the seven classrooms, only five are operational.
Belying the tall claims of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) regarding infrastructure development for education, a regional language school in Sion is in complete ruins and on the verge of collapse.
"The building of the educational institute is seriously dilapidated. Walls broken in several places with rainwater seeping in from the roof shingles on to the children. Everyday here is like inviting danger," said Badrunisa Mohammed, who heads the Urdu division at the school.
The Kannadi Chawl Municipal Tamil School, located in Shastri Nagar along the Mahim-Sion Link Road, was constructed in 1957. Since then, it has undergone revamp only once, in 2010, involving construction of toilets. Everything else continues to be 59 years old.
Around 270 students get schooled everyday at the institution in Tamil and Urdu. The school runs on two shifts with the support of eight teachers and no support staff. Out of the seven classrooms, only five are operational.
"The roof has caved in in two rooms and bricks have started protruding. To protect the students, we decided to keep them shut," Mohammed said, adding that even the record room is now in ruins, as most of the documents and files have been damaged due to rains.
Other teachers echoed Mohammed, attacking the local ward office for its apathy.
Leaking roof comes crashing
A week ago, the thunderous showers that pummeled the city also left a mark on the school. Part of the roof came crashing down, and it has still not been repaired or removed.
According to students' parents, they get nervous and restless when it rains heavily. "Last time, fortunately, when the roof caved in, it was a Sunday. Nowadays, whenever it rains heavily, we immediately rush to the school to inquire about our children's welfare," said Mansoor Khan, a parent. He added that many senior officers of the education department, who visited the school several times, have turned a blind eye to the issue.
"The school authorities have failed to reconstruct and even repair the building which is in shambles," said Rukhsar Kazi, another parent.
When contacted, administrative officer of the school (G-north ward) Sayali Surve said, "We are aware of the dilapidated condition of the school. Even after repeatedly following up on the issue with senior officials, there has been no progress."
Students eat near toilet, sit on floor
When all the nearby city schools have good physical infrastructure, the students of the Sion school are a neglected lot.
"They are forced to eat their lunch near the toilet area during recess as there is no other place. We have shown this to education committee members, but it is yet to melt their heart," said a teacher.
For a class of 40-odd students, there are only half a dozen benches. Thus, several are forced to sit on the cold floor for hours.
Corporation officials who declared the building unfit are yet to come up with an alternative to shift the students and undertake necessary renovation work on the building.
BMC avails Rs35 crore to redevelop 10 schools
The BMC, in its latest decision, announced redevelopment of 10 regional language schools in the city. It has made a financial provision of Rs35 crore for the revamp of these schools, which is to start in July. Sion's Kannadi Chawl Municipal Tamil School, however, is not in the list.
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