A school with just one student

KARWAR: While there is a festive atmosphere at most of the primary schools in the state on the day when ‘Shalegagi Navu-Neevu’ programme was arranged, a lower primary school at Sakal Mudgeri, near the Goa border looked deserted.The reason being that the school has only one student enrolled this year. Ashwini Atmaram Shetkar, the lone student of standard 4, says that she feels emotionally attached to the school. Ashwini is from nearby Kumbarwada village. The teacher is good and I cannot think of joining any other school, she told reporters. School teacher Shailasri said that there are 86 families in the village, but parents prefer to send their children to English medium schools at Sadashivgad and Loliem in Goa. The school had three students last year, she said.Mudgeri GP vice-president Geeta Rane blamed the government for allowing English medium schools to come up in nearby areas. Ironically, Rane, who insists that the school be continued in the village despite the lack of desired strength of 10 students, sends her children to Sadashivgad school, which she said is ‘inevitable.’ The school  has a good toilet, drinking water facility and a small play ground too. The only student is provided mid-day meal also. The school in nearby  Shejebag has six students and two teachers.