Dombivli ZP school runs without principal, two teachers handle 56 students

The kitchen where mid-day meals are prepared for students at the ZP school in Dombivli East

A Zilla Parishad school in Sandap village, Dombivli East, is functioning without a principal and with just two teachers for 56 students, while repair work and infrastructure upgrades remain pending. With authorities passing responsibility between agencies, villagers have begun raising funds to keep the school running.

Stuck between authorities

The village was merged into the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, but the Zilla Parishad school remains under ZP control, leaving accountability unclear.

Damaged infra at the Zilla Parishad school in Sandap village, where repair work is pending

Villagers say requests for repairs bounce between the municipal corporation and the Zilla Parishad, with neither taking full responsibility.

Two teachers, many roles

Teachers Girish Thakare and Chitra Bhalerao manage all academic and administrative work.

"We have repeatedly requested repairs, more teachers and digital tools, but there has been no response," said Thakare.

Bhalerao had earlier run the school alone for two years.

(From left) Teacher Girish Thakare with alumnus Anant Tukaram Patil and teacher Chitra Bhalerao at the Sandap ZP school in Dombivli East

"I handled multiple classes, paperwork, sports and parent coordination on my own," she said.

Two village women occasionally volunteer to help with lessons during exam season.

Villagers funding repairs

Former student Anant Tukaram Patil, 69, has led local fundraising to support the school.

"When the walls deteriorated in the rains, authorities kept redirecting us. Finally, we raised about Rs 15,000-16,000 from temple funds to repair one wall," he said.

The Zilla Parishad school building in Sandap village, Dombivli East, which currently operates with limited staff and infrastructure. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Patil said many successful professionals from the village studied in the same school.

"This school shaped our lives. Without it, many of us would never have progressed," he added.

Fire-damaged classrooms

A short circuit sparked a fire on the second floor, rendering two classrooms unusable.

All students from Std I to VIII are now accommodated in just two ground-floor rooms.

Push for outside help

Anant's son, Tejas Patil, is now seeking support from NGOs and local groups.

"Better infrastructure will encourage families to continue their children's education here," said Tejas, a software engineer.

What is working

>> Mid-day meals continue
>> Uniforms and textbooks provided annually
>> Students still participate in sports events
>> Despite limited facilities, one student recently represented the school at a sports meet in Gujarat.

What the school urgently needs

Infrastructure
>> Structural repair and safety audit
>> Classroom restoration after fire
>> Electrical maintenance
Painting and wall repair

Learning support
>> Digital equipment like projectors and screens
>> More benches and classroom space