Calls for bringing Attakulangara school campus alive

Following the collapse of the roof of a heritage structure on the compound of Central High School, Attakulangara, and the blame game that ensued regarding accountability for the neglect that led to this incident, there is a growing clamour for improving the school’s standards and bringing its vast and verdant campus alive.

The 137-year-old school, located in the heart of the city, is no stranger to change or challenges. While it did manage to prevent its land being hived off for a bus bay over a decade ago, it has not met with similar success in preventing itself from being forgotten.

Achuthsankar S. Nair, academic and history buff, says that to prevent the buildings on the school campus from falling into disuse and neglect, he had proposed air-conditioning two buildings and shifting rare books found in old school libraries in Thiruvananthapuram schools to these structures for setting up a heritage library. However, the proposal could not be realised.

Mr. Achuthsankar says that to prevent further neglect of the expansive school campus, it could be repurposed as a secondary educational facility, where any child could come and play sports or games or learn arts and crafts during the after-school hours and on weekends under the watchful eyes of teachers appointed by the government. This would provide the children, particularly those in the neighbourhood, an opportunity to have fun and relax.

He is not in favour of spending more money on renovation and reconstruction of the building, suggesting instead to retain part of it as a model and create open spaces to attract children. Another idea could be to bring down the compound wall and convert the space into a huge square, says Mr. Nair.

Shaji Krishnan of the Thiruvananthapuram chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), which had in a report to the government expressed reservations about the work done for preserving a heritage structure on the school campus a decade ago, also observes that the campus here is not live unlike that in many other schools.

Though there had been some interest in the school for a few years after the LDF government struck down the bus bay proposal, it soon dwindled. The school and the campus were part of a heritage precinct and so should be preserved, says Mr. Krishnan.

An unsafe structure can be repaired, but it’s crucial for the school to maintain good capacity and educational standards.

Both the government and the city Corporation should make a sincere effort to protect the school, says Mr. Krishnan, adding that he plans to meet the Mayor soon.

Saji Kumar, an alumnus and the then general secretary of the school protection committee, says the school has fewer than 100 students. For it to get a new lease of life, a higher secondary section should be allowed. The school should also be developed as a cultural hub where people can come together in the evenings. He expresses apprehension that if things continue the way they are, the school land will disappear.