By BIRA KISHORE DASH, OP
Patana: Seventy-seven-year-old Gopinath Narayan High School in this block headquarters town of Kendujhar district is in a dilapidated condition, with students forced to attend classes under leaking roofs. The school, established in 1949 through the efforts of residents and named after then Kendujhar ruler Gopinath Narayan Bhanj, has yet to receive proper permanent roofing for its classrooms.
The asbestos sheets were damaged in a hailstorm April 7 and have been covered with tarpaulin as a temporary measure. Even light rain causes water to leak into classrooms, soaking students’ books and disrupting lessons. Classes are frequently suspended midway when rain intensifies.
Teachers and students say the situation has become particularly difficult during periods of low-pressure rainfall as rainwater gets accumulated inside the classrooms. The school also lacks a separate toilet for girls and a dedicated library.
More than 383 students from Class VI to X are enrolled in the school. Despite its long history, the institution does not have a proper building for students’ academic activities. Library books remain stored in cupboards inside a storeroom, leaving them vulnerable to damage. The school’s hostel rooms are also in a dilapidated condition and are no longer occupied. The damaged asbestos and tiled roofs have remained a major concern.
With no permanent repair, classes continue under tarpaulin sheets spread over the broken roofing. Former students and parents have repeatedly demanded repairs and better facilities, but no lasting solution has been implemented, fuelling resentment among the local community.
Gopinath Narayan High School is among the older educational institutions in Kendujhar district, along with Kendujhar DN High School, BN High School in Anan dapur and Champua Mahatab School. Residents have urged authorities to restore the historic school and provide basic facilities for its students.
The school was transformed under the previous BJD government through the 5T initiative with an allocation of `80 lakh fund. However, parents have alleged that the work was limited to painting, paver installation and beautification, with no new school building constructed. Parent Nushrib Saha said the school, where his daughter studies, does not have a separate toilet for girls, causing considerable inconvenience to female students.
Another parent, Sehajad Husain, said the asbestos roof was damaged by hailstones and now leaks during rain. Students are often drenched when it rains, he said, urging the government to construct new classrooms at the earliest. School Management Committee president Shamim Uddin said parents would launch an agitation if the existing classrooms are not repaired and new rooms are not constructed.
He said the Patana Block Development Officer and Block Education Officer have also been informed about the problems. District Education Officer Purna Chandra Bariha said he would investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
