Karlamunda: Despite various government initiatives to improve education and ensure quality teaching, several schools continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure and teacher shortages. The Government Nodal Upper Primary (UP) School in Karlamunda block of Kalahandi district is a glaring example. Established in 1964, the 62-year-old school does not have land of its own.
It has only four teachers to manage nine classes, affecting classroom teaching and learning. The situation has prompted several parents to withdraw their children and enrol them in other schools.
The school has 153 students this academic year, including one in Sishu Vatika, five in Class I, seven in Class II, 13 each in Classes III and IV, 18 in Class V, 37 in Class VI, 26 in Class VII and 33 in Class VIII. In the 2025-26 academic year, the school had 162 students, including five in Sishu Vatika, six in Class I, 12 in Class II, 11 in Class III, 16 each in Class IV and Class V, 24 in Class VI, 30 in Class VII and 42 in Class VIII.
Headmaster Gopamani Sahu, one of the four teachers, is also holding the additional charge of Assistant Block Education Officer (ABEO). His administrative responsibilities have affected both school management and teaching activities. Although the school has 12 classrooms, only fi ve are currently usable. The remaining rooms have become unsafe and lie abandoned.
The kitchen room is also in a dilapidated condition, forcing staff to prepare the midday meal in the verandah. The absence of land ownership has been a major obstacle to the school’s development. The institution was established on land donated by a tribal person, but the school has yet to acquire ownership of the property. As a result, the land issue has prevented the construction of additional classrooms, leaving students and teachers to cope with inadequate facilities.
The school has electricity and drinking water facilities, but lacks proper toilets for students. As a result, children are forced to go outside to relieve themselves, with girls particularly facing diffi culties. Although the school has a boundary wall on the front, the rear remains unfenced, raising concerns among parents over the safety of students and the lack of a suitable learning environment.
School management committee president Chandrabhanu Sahu and member Pradeep Kumar Sahu have urged the Education Department and district administration to take immediate steps to resolve the land issue, appoint adequate number of teachers, construct additional classrooms and provide proper toilet facilities. When contacted, headmaster and ABEO (in-charge) Gopamani Sahu acknowledged the shortage of teachers and classrooms. He said steps would be taken to address the problems at the earliest.