Post News Network
Kendrapara, Nov 28: The state government claims to have been making several efforts to reduce dropout rate in schools, but the state of affairs in a coastal village in this district tells a different tale.
The infrastructure and educational facilities available at Gumura village in Rangani panchayat under Rajnagar block allow children of the village to study only upto Class-V. To study beyond that, the children have to cross a crocodile-infested river.
According to Srikant Maiti, a resident, a project primary school has been functioning in the village since 2008. After completing Class-V in the school, the students have to take admission in the nearest upper primary school at Junusnagar. However, to reach Junusnagar the students have to cross the crocodile-infested river Patasala on boats, Maiti said.
“Often children have to wade through knee-deep water, putting themselves at the risk of crocodile attacks,” he added.
“After crossing the river, we have to trek another 2 km to reach the school,” said Ashis Hati, a Class-VII student.
The school at Junusnagar has classes only upto VIII, so if students want to go for further studies, they have to trek another 7 km after crossing the river to reach Dighi-based Binapani High School, said Saraswati Giri, a Class-VIII student.
“The other option available to the students is to study at Chanrakola High School, but for that they have to trek nearly 10 km on a dilapidated road after crossing the river,” she said
“More than 85 per cent of the students of the village drop out after passing out of Class-VIII,” Giri lamented.
“Though many of us desire to complete matriculation, we leave studies midway for lack of communication facilities,” said Rinarani Bera, Class-VIII dropout.
Only six students have passed matriculation in the village, said Rabindra Jana, a resident. Besides, the village Anganwadi Centre is located at Gopaljewpatana, about 6 km from the village, he said.
The only concrete structure in the village is the primary school building with not even a single person having availed housing unit under Indira Awas Yojana.
Rajnagar BDO Maitri Bhattacharya said she would take up the issues with the collector. PNN
