Aradi: Though the government makes provision of funds for infrastructure development of schools, students are risking their lives by studying at dilapidated buildings, with one such instance coming to light from Sundarpur area under Chandbali block in Bhadrak.
The Khatuapatana UP School is in an utterly dilapidated state, and has also been declared as a danger-prone building. Yet it continues to be used as a school, putting the lives of several students at risk.
Locals are worried over the lurking danger, stating that the building might cave in at any moment trapping several children as well as school staff under it. An Anganwadi building in Nayagarh had similarly collapsed a few years ago, killing several children. The incident had created a statewide outcry.
Khatuapatana UP School is one the oldest institutions in the state, and was set up in 1887. It has 169 students in Class-I to Class-VIII.
Since 2012, two rooms of the school were declared as dangerous while teachers find it difficult to accommodate such a large number of students in other classrooms.
Teachers say they have no way but to teach students in such danger-prone classrooms. “The fear of a catastrophe is always at the back of the mind, both for teachers as well as students,” say locals.
Since 2014, the management committee of the school has not been formed due to which the state government does not provide SIG and RMG funds. Five teachers impart education here at the school.
Teachers and locals said though the authorities of the education department have drawn the attention of the plight of the students and teachers, nothing has been done as yet.
CRCC of Mathsahi cluster, Debabrata Rout, said he was aware of the miserable condition of the school building. “It has been declared danger-prone in 2012. Efforts will be taken to build two more classrooms for the school under Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan,” Rout added.
Block education officer Pranaya Kumar Nayak said he was well aware of the problems of the school, which will be looked into. PNN
