Dravidian Model Of Education: Muthaliyarpatti Govt School Students Forced to Study Under Trees, No Basic Facilities

In yet another example of the challenges students face due to the failure of the ruling DMK, government school students are forced to attend classes in dire conditions. At Muthaliyarpatti Government Higher Secondary School, located near Kadayam, many students have no choice but to study under trees or in makeshift structures due to a lack of proper infrastructure. This situation has led to health problems among students, with many suffering from allergies and skin rashes.

Reports indicate that the school is missing key facilities, such as toilets, a playground, functional laboratories, and an adequate drinking water system. One of the students stated, “Due to the shortage of classrooms, lessons are often conducted under trees, in the shed, or even on a pathway in front of the headmistress’s office. Many of the existing classrooms have no fans, and the children are forced to play in a narrow path beside the school, as there’s no proper playground.”

Other children revealed that the school had only one water purifier to serve over 600 students, leading to long queues. Often, the water ran out before everyone got a chance to drink, and during power outages, the children were left thirsty. “Sometimes, we even drink from a leaking pipeline near the railway track, which is part of the Combined Water Supply Scheme,” one student added.

The school’s toilet facilities were also found to be equally inadequate, with a single poorly maintained toilet. Many students were forced to relieve themselves in the open, leading to concerns over urinary tract infections. “The conditions are bad, and we often suffer because of them,” students noted.

M Faridha Banu, chairperson of the School Management Committee, explained that the lack of classrooms has prevented the introduction of new groups in higher classes. She added that because the school has no kitchen, students must walk to a nearby primary school for their meals. “The school only has one sweeper, earning around ₹3,000 per month, and even that payment is made every six months. In such circumstances, it’s unreasonable to expect clean toilets and premises,” she remarked.

Social activist Mohammed Abdul Khader, who has been petitioning officials to address these issues, said that the Tenkasi Revenue Divisional Officer and Tahsildar visited the school in November 2024 and promised to secure land for additional classrooms. However, no progress has been made since then. “The state government must act quickly to prevent students from transferring to private schools,” he urged, adding that some classrooms were constructed on a 5.5-cent plot donated by philanthropist Haji S Mohideen Pitchai.

When contacted, Chief Educational Officer Rejina stated that the school education department was working to acquire a nearby government land parcel to build more classrooms. “Once the payment for the land is processed, it will be handed over to us. We understand that Alangulam MLA Manoj Pandian is planning to provide funding for the purchase,” she confirmed.