SUBRAT KUMAR NAYAK, OP
Talabasta: Sahada pada Government Primary School in Banki block of Kataka district presents a contrasting picture amid tall claims of improved education system and transformed infrastructure in the state. The 101-year-old school is plagued by several problems, but has apparently failed to draw the attention of the administration Established in 1925, the school’s condition has deteriorated over the years. The school stands on land under the Gopalpur Patapur gram panchayat but is named after Sahadapada ward under the Banki NAC. Parents allege that neither the sarpanch nor the municipal councillor has taken the school’s problems seriously.
According to headmaster Santosh Kumar Paramanik, the school has Sishu Vatika to Class VIII and functions from seven rooms. One room is used as the headmaster’s office and common room for teachers, leaving six more for teaching. Students of Classes I, II and III are taught together in a single classroom. Due to lack of space, Class VIII students are forced to attend classes in a storeroom used to stock rice. The school has 151 students and 11 teachers, according to the attendance register.
However, two teachers have been deputed to other schools. Of the remaining nine, two to three are engaged every day in various government assignments, affecting regular teaching. The school also receives only Rs 50,000 annually under the government’s composite grant for development, which staff and parents say is inadequate for its needs. During the rainy season, water accumulates on the school premises and near the main gate, forcing students to wade through stagnant, dirty water to enter the school.
The problem has persisted for three years, but no steps have been taken to raise the ground level. The school’s tube well also produces iron-contaminated water, making it unsuitable for drinking. The water purifier in the school has been defunct for a long time. An old, dilapidated and unused school building stands next to the tube well and has become a haven for snakes, scorpions and other poisonous reptiles, even during the daytime. This has raised concerns over the safety of students and staff. Though the structure needs to be demolished, neither the panchayat nor the municipal authorities have paid attention to the issue. Parent Pappu Nayak said only the Dampada BDO can permit demolition of the dilapidated building.
Despite repeated requests to draw the BDO’s attention to the issue, no action has been taken. The toilets built for students also lack doors, particularly causing problems for girls. Social worker Chandan Ganthia said two or three staff members remain absent from the school almost every day. Garbage and rainwater accumulate near the kitchen, he added. The unhygienic surroundings where vegetables are cut and food is prepared have raised questions about cleanliness and hygiene in the preparation of mid-day meals. The school also needs a proper library, a bicycle stand and a common dining hall for students to have their mid-day meals.
However, these projects have not progressed due to lack of government assistance. School management committee president Ajit Kumar Subudhi said no special grant had been received during the past five years to improve the school’s infrastructure. He said the infrastructure required for a better and safe learning environment would be raised at the next management committee meeting and efforts would be made to expedite the work. Block Education Officer Chinmay Kumar Mohapatra said he had recently assumed charge and would discuss the issues that have come to his notice with higher authorities and take steps to resolve the problems.
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