Mangaluru: Satire had its say on a hot Friday afternoon here at an AC (Air Conditioned) equipped ZP hall in an interaction between children and district administration. A fourth standard lad said teachers were borrowing text books from children to teach as they do not have the newly introduced text books.

Akshay of the Government lower primary school, Sangabettu, Bantwal taluk urged district administration to swiftly provide new text books to teachers to end inconvenience caused by this to children. His question sparked laughter among officials of the district administration.

Children had gathered from 163 Grama Panchayath and scribes attended to report the event. However a genuine query by an innocent kid satirically pointed out loopholes of education system of which teachers are the major stakeholders. 

An official from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Dakshina Kannada assured Akshay, that the body would look into the matter, and in the next academic year they would order more number of text books to redress his problem. After, extracting this promise from the official, Akshay went back to his seat.

Another girl, Rashmi said “Many students want to become IAS officers like A B Ibrahim but due to financial constraints, are unable to make it.” She pointed fingers at the reservation system and expressed that only SC/ST and minorities were entitled for same and asked why other children belonging to other castes were denied of this facility. Rashmi opined many children hailing from other castes  live in a sorry state. She urged the district administration to resolve the problem.

Humbled, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), A B Ibrahim,  after Rashmi mentioned his name,  explained reservation was not a permanent phenomenon but reviewed every 10 years. The children or students having poor background have 5% reservation during admissions and in other facilities. DC  expressed the view that the percentage of reservation was not sufficient for such children. He said a proposal would be sent from his office to consider her plea.

“Some sell tobacco products near the school” said Afreez from Sajjippanadu Grama Panchayath. He complained this would derail prospects of students. Besides, quoting one incident, he said police verbally abused students in their vicinity for not saluting them and asked whether it suits the police’s stature.

Other children from other GP’s also brought to the notice about sale of tobacco within 100 mts from where school operates. The DC assured he would consider this a priority issue, while an official from police department assured he would enquire into both tobacco issue as well as abuse. The official said that the police department has been training personnel on how to deal with children and women. He quipped, many fellow policemen are still unaware of how to hold conversation with children.

Students also aired problems related to toilets in their school, sanitation and others for which district administration promised swift measures.