Sullia: Due to shortage of students two government schools which were instrumental in providing education to rural students for many decades were closed on June 30th and 7 more schools with less than 10 students face closure in the near future .
The primary school in Bhotakallu under Aletti village limits and Bendodi school in Kollamogra village limits were shut down at the end of last month.

The closure was enforced despite assurance by the new education minister as their continuation was not feasible with only 2 students left in Bhotakallu school and 3 students in Bendodi school. Two students from Bhootakallu village were shifted to a residential school as parents on their own have taken 3 students from Bendodi School for admission in other schools. Teachers working in these schools have been transferred to other schools in the taluk.

Though the closure was on the anvil for quite some time it was delayed due to the extension of last date for fresh admissions till June 30th. As there were no fresh admissions, the schools were closed though the departmental officials said they will have an opportunity to reopen them if there are fresh admissions during the second phase.

There are 7 schools in the taluk in the border villages of Rangattamale and Kemmanaballi where there are less than 10 students in each school, hence face closure in the near future. With more schools getting added to the list of schools all such schools may enter history books soon !

Shortage of teachers:

On one side schools are being closed where as on the other side the department faces acute shortage of teachers in the taluk. According to senior officials in the education department the department needs 125 teachers at primary and 46 teachers at secondary level to fill the existing vacancies that exist.