TEAM HERALD
PONDA:Government schools, especially in rural parts of the State, are generally not renowned for their quality of buildings, education and amenities.
Imagine then, a government school at Bethora-Ponda with the following features: a state-of-the-art building, an A/C computer lab, physics and chemistry laboratories, multipurpose hall, projectors, full-fledged library, canteen facilities, provision for CCTV cameras. What’s more, a swimming pool and a playground are expected to be made available shortly.
“Around 300 students at the Government high school in Bethora were attending classes under difficult circumstances in a dilapidated school building. However, a new school building has been built and students will shift to the new premises from the next academic year. This is the first modernised and fully-equipped school built by the government in the State,” said a visibly pleased Bethora Sarpanch Poonam Samant.
“Work on the new building was undertaken following complaints from parents that the old building, which is 25 years old, was in bad condition. The newly constructed government High School at Bethora, which is constructed by the GSIDC at an estimated cost of Rs 7.5 crore, will have all modern facilities,” Samant added.
The three-storeyed building, spread across 2,500 sq mtrs, will consist of 24 classrooms and will include an A/C computer lab, physics and chemistry laboratories, a multipurpose hall, projectors, a full-fledge library, canteen facilities and provision for CCTV cameras.
When students shift to the news school premises, the old school building will be demolished to make way for a swimming pool and a playground.
Industries Minister Mahadev Naik, who is the local MLA, also threw more light on the school project.
“Education is my priority and I did not want students from rural areas to be left behind on account of poor amenities. The foundation stone was laid by the CM in October 2012, Naik said.
