The Government Boys High School Aliya has been around for 151 years in Hyderabad, but unfortunately, the school is in a poor state. The building is very old and may collapse at any moment. The government has not done anything to restore the school’s former glory. Social activists have taken to social media to urge the State government to renovate the school building. The school is located beside the State Council of Educational Research and Training Centre but has remained in a deteriorated state.
The school was initially near the King Koti Palace and was shifted to its current campus located in Basheer Bagh in 1949. The school was set up by Salar Jung I and was an exclusive institution for the royalty of Hyderabad. Many famous people received their education at this school. The building is made out of granite stones and has an Indo-European style. Unfortunately, lack of repair and timely restoration has led to cracks in the structure with stone chunks falling off and vegetation growing inside the walls.
This building was listed as a heritage structure under the HMDA act in 1981, but several parts of the structure have broken. The major part of the school premises is now unfit for students to attend classes, and the same scenario is with Government Junior College, which is located on the same premises.
The school’s history dates back to 1872 when it was established by Mir Turab Ali Khan (Salar Jung 1), who also served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad from 1853-1883. He began the school with 10 students from the royal and Nobel families. After Operation Polo, this school came under the control of the State Government and its name was changed to Government Boys High School – Aliya and Government Boys Junior College. This school was also the first English medium school for the Muslim and Hindu communities in Hyderabad.
Teachers are worried about students returning to school as it is very shaky. The walls are broken, and water could enter from anywhere, making it tough for teachers during the monsoon. Currently, a portion of the ground floor of the building is being used as the administration section of the school and staff room, while classes will run under small tin sheds around the main building. It is crucial for the Education department and HMDA to restore the school as soon as possible.
