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The only student, a girl in class four, continues her education without disruption at the upper primary school in Wyra mandal.
Govt school in Telangana’s Khammam district operates with single student.(Representative/File Photo)
In the small village of Narapanenipalle in Telangana, a nine-year-old girl, Keerthana, is the sole student at her government-run school, making it the only one of its kind in the state. The only school teacher, Uma comes to the school every day just to teach her.
“If the school is closed once, it becomes difficult to reopen it for students, so my father decided to let me study here. I will stay here until I complete seventh grade, after which I will go to a hostel for secondary school,” Keerthana told BBC.
“The teaching remains the same, whether there are 10 students, 20 students, or just one; however, the burden decreases,” said Uma, the sole teacher.
The only student, a girl in class four, attends the upper primary school in Wyra mandal to continue her education without interruption, a district education official told PTI on Wednesday.
The story of the girl recently gained widespread attention on social media. Netizens praised her father’s decision to keep her enrolled, ensuring the school stays open. Some describe her as both fortunate and unfortunate—fortunate to have a dedicated personal tutor, yet unfortunate to miss out on the companionship of classmates.
The school costs around 12 lakh rupees a year to operate. Fifteen years ago, there were 70 students.
“The main reasons for the low enrolment are the increasing preference for private and English medium schools, and parents choosing to enrol their children in state-run social welfare residential schools after class 4,” the official said.
Currently, the school is managed by a single teacher, following the required pupil-to-teacher ratio. Efforts are being made to encourage parents to enrol their children for the next academic year, with hopes of admitting at least 25 students.
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To attract more students, the school has launched a program called ‘We Can Learn,’ which focuses on improving English and communication skills.
“This initiative is being promoted to boost admissions. Additionally, teachers are receiving training to enhance their skills. We are expecting positive outcomes in terms of admissions,” the official added.
