MANGALURU
Once teetering on the brink of closure around seven years ago, Zilla Panchayat Government Higher Primary School in Samethadka, Puttur taluk, has witnessed a remarkable transformation. Student enrolment, which had dwindled to just 18, has surged to 180 this academic year. The school now attracts children not only from Samethadka but also from neighboring villages, showcasing how collective determination can revive a government school once on the verge of shutting down.
This revival was made possible with the support of the Namma Shale Samethadka Charitable Trust, which helped strengthen the school’s basic infrastructure. Alongside the trust, the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC), local community members, the school adoption programme, and education experts played critical roles in breathing new life into the institution.
The turnaround began in 2018-19 when Maria Ashraf took charge as headmistress. She recalls the dire situation with only 18 students enrolled across classes 1 to 7. Concerned about the school’s future, she engaged with SDMC members and locals to explore solutions. One key suggestion was to introduce Lower Kindergarten (LKG) and Upper Kindergarten (UKG), which started in the academic year 2020-21 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With steady support from the SDMC and community, the school’s enrolment grew steadily—reaching 150 students last year and crossing 180 this year. Local resident and school adopter Gopalkrishna Bhat formed a charitable trust to enhance facilities, while education expert Dinesh Kamath curated special programmes that brought recognition to the school. As the student body grows, efforts continue to improve infrastructure and resources to sustain this positive momentum.
