Teachers are worried about the possible damage to schools that will host polling booths for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Candidates’ posters stuck on walls, garbage strewn around, and blackboards damaged are some of the issues teachers have to deal with after the election.

It was in 1951 as India got ready to hold its first general elections with Assembly elections in the State that schools were chosen as easy infrastructure for polling booths.

An article in The Hindu in 1951 noted that the election commissioner resorted to schools as polling booths. Today, the school walls where the photos of candidates and their symbols are pasted get defaced. “We make so much efforts to keep schools a place for learning with fun, with walls painted with animal caricatures and slogans. But every two or three years, an election comes, and our efforts are wasted,” said M. Krishnaveni, principal, Corporation Primary School at Mogappair.

A school in Chennai drew pictures of animals on its walls. “The children were happy to be outside and spend time learning. But the 2019 election came and the walls were stuck with posters. When we peeled off the posters, the paint too came along,” said the principal. Teachers point out that the rooms allotted as booths are cleaned and readied for use by the members of the public. But when they return for the next academic year, the schools are left unclean, with garbage strewn around.

“We have to clean it up. We would close for the academic year and hand over the building to election officials. But when we come back, our schools are not in the same condition. We have to clean them,” said Ms. Krishnaveni.

Bad example

Sheela M., a parent from Manali, points out that this sets a bad example for children. “They will think that it is all right to stick things on school walls or blackboards. Instead of caring for their surroundings, they will understand that damage will be tolerated.” In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, a school at Mogappair was defaced. A video of a primary school child talking about the poor condition of her school went viral. The video showed the garbage strewn around, shelves broken, and posters left in the classroom.

N. Vijayan, senior principal of Zion and Alwin Group of Schools, recounted how the posters were stuck on a painting of Abdul Kalam on the wall in the school. “This was during the last election. I requested the polling officer not to do so. If we are asked to ensure a ramp and accommodation for the polling officers, the least that can be done is to take care of the premises,” he added.

Teachers also noted that it is even more difficult to peel off posters stuck on blackboards. “It’s difficult to peel them off, and our blackboards are ruined. We can’t even use them properly for the next few months,” said Manjula, a government school teacher at Manali.

Friction among students

Palli Kalvi Padhukappu Iyyakkam made representations to the Election Commission to ensure that schools were not defaced. “Schools should be well maintained to make sure that children would like to go over there. If the schools can be handed over in a good condition, why can’t they be returned in a good condition,” asked Thenkanal Isaimozhi of Palli Kalvi Padhukappu Iyyakkam.

Some teachers have also voiced concern over students identifying themselves with political parties. They point out that the posters have caused friction among students. “This is not necessary as the students are too young to be involved in politics. If the posters are removed from the premises before the students return to school, it will be better,” said a government school teacher in Villupuram.

Officials of the Election Commission and the School Education Department could not be reached for comment.