Cashbags keep off schooling

Corporates not helping government schools

Government schools in Hyderabad don’t attract the attention of private companies even though Hyderabad is hailed for its many information technology and pharmaceutical companies.

There are 680 schools in Hyderabad and not one has been adopted under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) even though most of the schools lack sufficient infrastructure or funds for providing quality education to their students.

Education department officials could cite only one activity taken up under CSR this year in the city. A public sector unit, NTPC, came forward to construct toilets for a government girls’ high school in West Marredpally. Last year, multinational company General Electric had shown interest in supporting government schools and asked for a list of schools that require the most attention which was provided to them. However, the company hasn’t reverted yet.

Same is the case in mandals which fall under Ranga Reddy and Medak districts just outside Hyderabad city, from where most of the companies operate. Serilingampally mandal is home to areas like Gachibowli, Kondapur and Madhapur where many multinational IT companies are located. One company adopted 11 of the 54 government schools there. In Ramachandrapuram, Medak district where pharmaceutical and chemical companies are located, only one of the 33 government schools has been adopted by a chemical company.

An official of the Ranga Reddy education department said, “Some IT companies come forward and provide support but it is mostly in the form of providing school uniform or books for students but rarely has there been support where it is required the most, in construction of classrooms, toilets and providing furniture for schools.”