A shocking reality at a
@chennaicorp higher secondary school in Kalyanapuram, Vyasarpadi, reveals a disturbing trend among students.
Earlier this week, a Class IX girl celebrated her birthday by drinking beer in her classroom, with her Class VII brother purchasing it for her. Just days later, three Class X boys were caught smoking beedis on campus. Substance abuse is becoming alarmingly common, with tobacco products like 'Cool Lip' being distributed among students, despite strict bans.
This Cool Lip comes from Bengaluru, sold among students for Rs150/box with 25 packets. It is used by students after lunch and gives them a 45min-high and coolness. (Pic 1: Cool Lip)
This isn’t just about the students—it’s a systemic failure. The school itself is in disrepair. Labs and libraries remain locked, toilets don't have much running water, and there's no drinking water. Students pool Rs30/day for water and face harsh conditions daily. They say they can only go to toilets outside the school. There is no PT teacher or sports equipment let alone a PT period.
School HM says that she asks students to stand or sit outside if they take substances inside campus to reform them.
But the school also does not allow students of class 9 and above to play in the ground or go outside to use toilets, for ensuring discipline and order. HM says that students also vandalise school infrastructure, damaging the school, despite Rs50k repair funds/year.
@chennaicorp hired 10 psychologists to address these issues in their 420 schools and officials said that they are building football and volleyball courts to channel such anti-social behaviours into physical activities for healthy reforms among students.
The Vyasarpadi school, near the Vyasarpadi flyover has a sprawling large ground and still awaits a new building to be handed over to accommodate students and also set up proper labs.
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