Mananchira’s iconic Govt Model School building demolition begins

Kozhikode: Demolition work began recently on the century-old building of the Government Model Higher Secondary School in Mananchira, Kozhikode. This has brought relief to long-standing concerns raised by school authorities. The faded signboard reading ‘Government Model Higher Secondary School, established 1920’ and the writing on its walls will soon fade into memory.

A toilet block constructed in 2006 near the building will also be demolished.

The structure has been considered unsafe for the past three years. Given the hazardous condition of the building, the Town Police had installed warning boards at the site. The Kozhikode Corporation is responsible for the building.

The demolition tender was taken up by contractors from Kozhikode. Workers said the entire structure would be fully demolished within three months.

Why is the building being demolished?

Located in the heart of the city, the building had been in a dangerous condition for years. School authorities had repeatedly demanded its demolition. Classes have been functioning in another building adjacent to the structure, raising fears of a major accident if the dilapidated building were to collapse. There were also concerns that students might unknowingly wander into the area and be injured by falling roof tiles or parts of the weakened roof.

As one of the earliest buildings, the roof was made using timber from Burma ironwood (irul) and Arjuna tree (maruthu), with metal used to secure the wooden framework.

The Kozhikode Deputy Director of Education (DDE) issued orders in October to demolish the building and instructed school authorities to submit a report after completion. Although the District Collector had earlier issued an order for demolition under the Disaster Management Act, the process had been delayed while awaiting the Deputy Director’s directive. The State Human Rights Commission had also taken suo motu cognisance of the matter due to the failure to demolish the dangerously dilapidated structure.