Dilapidated school building in Tiruverumbur poses danger to students

The Panchayat Union Elementary School building at Ayyampatti, located in the Tiruverumbur block of Tiruchi district, is in a dangerous condition, raising serious concerns about the safety of its students and staff.

Constructed in 1962, the school once used to attract students from the surrounding areas and boasted a strength of over 60. However, over the past 15 years, the school has seen a steady decline in student strength. At present, only seven students have been enrolled — four in Class 3, two in Class 1, and one in Class 4 — with no enrolment in Classes 2 and 5.

The school now operates with just two classrooms, lacks a compound wall, and has no functional toilet facilities for either students or teachers. The building’s roof is in poor condition and prone to damage during the rainy season, prompting fears among parents that the structure could collapse in heavy rain.

Many parents have stopped sending their children to school. Several students have already shifted to nearby private and government-aided schools. Lack of infrastructure has led to repeated demands from parents to rebuild the school. But action has not been taken in the last decade.

Recently, officials from the School Education Department inspected the school building and had assured the parents that the existing building will be demolished and construct a new structure featuring two classrooms, a staff room, and toilet facilities.

A senior official said the current students would be shifted to the nearby anganwadi centre, and immediate measures will be taken to reconstruct the school.