(Image Credit: Nakkheeran)
For the past six years, students at Ponnagaram Government High School, located near Aranthangi in Pudukkottai district, have been forced to study outdoors under the shade of trees due to the lack of proper classrooms. Only temporary tin shed structures have been provided. The students, who come from disadvantaged fishing communities, have urged the government to construct a proper building for their school.
Ponnagaram Government High School, situated in the Manamelkudi union on the east coast, was upgraded to a high school in 2017. Despite the school’s consistent success in maintaining a 100% pass rate in the 10th-grade public examinations until last year, it has yet to receive any dedicated classrooms. The school currently serves 272 students, with 60 10th-grade students set to sit for their public exams. While the school has one toilet unit for the students, no classroom buildings have been constructed in the eight years since it was upgraded to a high school.
When the school transitioned from a middle school to a high school, the existing three-classroom building for the middle school was taken over. One of these classrooms has been converted into a computer lab with 11 computers, while the other two are shared by the 10th and 11th-grade students. Despite repeated petitions by the Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA), parents, and villagers to various officials, including the District Collector, Education Department, ministers, and MPs, the situation has not improved.
Seeing the hardships their children endured in the heat and rain, villagers took it upon themselves to build a two-classroom structure, though there was still no place for students in 6th and 7th grades. The teachers, out of their generosity, built a large tin shed, but during extreme weather, many students are forced to sit in the shade of trees, much like they did in earlier years. The PTA and School Management Committee (SMC) have once again started a campaign to demand a proper classroom building for the students who have been suffering in these conditions.
Since the school was upgraded to a high school in 2017, it has achieved remarkable success, with teachers dedicated to providing quality education. However, due to the lack of proper infrastructure, the school cannot accommodate students from nearby villages who seek admission. The existing two classrooms, originally meant for middle school, have 55-60 students each, making it impossible to divide the classes effectively. As a result, the classes have remained as single units. In addition, the school has only one toilet unit meant for 168 students, which is inadequate and causes further hardship. Despite repeated requests to build more classrooms, no action has been taken.
Speaking to the media, a student said, “We are studying under a shed built by the people of our town. When there is a power outage, extremely sweats, and we can’t sit. During such times, we have to move out and study under the trees. That’s why we need a proper building.”
One of the villagers, expressing frustration to the media, said, “They keep saying to provide 10 and 15 classrooms over and over… everything is on paper but nothing is being done. The government should at least construct two classrooms this academic year to resolve this issue, so that students can study well and happily.”
100 % தேர்ச்சி பெற்ற அரசுப் பள்ளி.. மரத்தடியில் இருந்து கோரிக்கை வைக்கும் மாணவர்கள்#governmentschool #tamilnadugovernment #thanthitv pic.twitter.com/362sjjTuCh
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) March 26, 2025
The villagers and teachers have expressed their frustration, with the students deciding to boycott the 10th-grade public exams unless their demands for a proper building are met. The teachers, however, stress the importance of the exams and hope that a boycott will draw the attention of officials to address their concerns. It is a painful reality for these students, as they are deprived of the basic infrastructure needed for their education.
In response to these concerns, the District Education Officer stated that inspections have been conducted at schools with shortages, and a request for new buildings has been sent. Schools in Ponnagaram, Kottayapattinam, and Thirunalur South are on the list for new construction, and steps will be taken soon.
The children of poor fishing families, who have long been denied proper educational facilities, deserve better opportunities. The future of the 60 students in Ponnagaram Government High School who are set to take their 10th-grade exams now lies in the hands of the authorities.
(With Inputs From Nakkheeran)
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