Vellore : Parents of children studying at a Panchayat Union Primary School in Kesavapuram village of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, are demanding urgent safety measures after a snake was found inside the school’s toilet last week.
The incident has intensified concerns among families over the safety of the 159 students studying at the school, which caters to children from Classes 1 to 5.
Residents say the school has functioned for more than three decades without a compound wall. They fear that the open premises, surrounding vegetation and nearby water bodies are making it easier for snakes, insects, stray dogs and even unauthorised persons to enter the campus.
Parents submitted a petition to Vellore Collector P S Leela Alex on Monday, seeking the construction of a compound wall around the school.
One snake was enough to deepen an old fear
For parents, the discovery of the snake was not an isolated concern.
R Nadiya, a parent from Kesavapuram, said she is worried about her children until they return home from school each day.
She said the school premises have become bushy and are located close to a drainage canal and a lake.
According to her, poisonous snakes and insects frequently enter the school campus. With temperatures remaining high, snakes may enter buildings seeking shade, she said.
The presence of a snake inside a school toilet has now made the fear more immediate for parents who send young children to the campus every day.
Why parents want a wall
The absence of a compound wall has reportedly been a concern since the school was established more than 30 years ago.
Parents believe a boundary wall would provide an important layer of protection by limiting the movement of animals and unauthorised people into the school premises.
For young children, parents say, even a seemingly minor encounter with a snake or stray animal could become dangerous because they may not know how to respond.
Nadiya said the students are young and may not understand what to do in an emergency.
The demand for a wall has therefore become more urgent following the recent snake sighting.
Stray dogs are another worry
Snakes are not the only concern facing families.
Another parent, Venda K, said several stray dogs frequently enter the school grounds because there is no boundary around the campus.
Her daughter studies in Class 3, and she said parents remain anxious about the possibility of children encountering stray dogs while moving around the school.
The presence of animals inside a primary school campus is particularly concerning because younger children may approach them out of curiosity or may not recognise signs of danger.
Parents believe a compound wall could help reduce such risks.
Rain creates a different problem
The school is also reportedly vulnerable during rainy weather.
Parents said the drainage canal behind the school can overflow when it rains, causing water to accumulate around the premises.
Stagnant rainwater has reportedly blocked the school entrance on such occasions.
This creates a double challenge for the school: the same surrounding landscape that provides a route for snakes and insects can also contribute to waterlogging during heavy rain.
Families say better drainage and a secure boundary are both needed to make the campus safer.
A break-in has added to the concerns
Security worries at the school increased further after an alleged theft from its kitchen.
On August 23, unidentified persons reportedly broke the lock of the kitchen where the midday meal for students is prepared and stole three gas cylinders.
School staff discovered the theft when they opened the kitchen the following day.
Parents who submitted the petition said the culprits had not been traced as of Monday.
The incident has strengthened concerns that the open school premises are vulnerable not only to animals but also to unauthorised entry.
Parents say the problem goes beyond one incident
For the families, the snake incident has brought several long-standing concerns together.
The absence of a compound wall, bushes around the campus, nearby water bodies, stray dogs, the possibility of snakes entering buildings and the reported kitchen theft have all contributed to a growing sense of insecurity.
The parents’ demand is therefore not simply a response to one snake being found.
They want the school environment to be made safer for children who spend several hours there every day.
A secure boundary could also help school staff manage access to the campus and protect facilities such as the midday meal kitchen.
Officials say a scheme will be identified
Kaniyambadi Block Development Officer Ramesh Kumar said the administration had received the petition only on Monday.
He said officials would identify a suitable government scheme through which the compound wall could be constructed.
The response offers a possible route towards addressing the parents’ demand, but families will now be watching for concrete action.
For parents, the need is straightforward: a school should be a safe place where children can study without the fear of encountering snakes, stray animals or strangers.
A simple wall could make a big difference
A compound wall may appear to be a basic piece of school infrastructure, but at Kesavapuram it could address several concerns at once.
It could restrict the entry of stray dogs, reduce access for unauthorised persons and make it more difficult for some animals to enter the campus.
Combined with clearing overgrown vegetation, improving drainage and maintaining secure doors and windows, it could significantly improve the safety of the school environment.
The school serves 159 young students, many of whom are too young to recognise or respond appropriately to dangers such as snakes or aggressive animals.
That makes preventive measures especially important.
Children deserve a safer walk into their classroom
For parents like Nadiya and Venda K, the worry does not end when their children enter the school gates.
They want to know that those gates — and the entire campus — provide adequate protection.
The snake found in the toilet has turned a long-standing infrastructure concern into an immediate safety issue. The reported theft has added another reason for authorities to examine the security of the premises.
Now, the responsibility rests with the local administration and school authorities to assess the risks and act before a preventable incident causes serious harm.
A compound wall alone may not solve every problem, but it could be an important first step.
For the parents of Kesavapuram, the message is simple: their children should be able to go to school, learn and play without their families spending the day worrying about what might be waiting inside the campus.