Deprived Schools: School operates on private land

PITAMBAR SAHU, OP

Amarpali: A government upper primary (UP) school in Subarnapur district operating on private land has been struggling with a shortage of classrooms, vacancy of teachers and absence of other essential infrastructure such as a boundary wall and a kitchen. Bisalpali Government Upper Primary (UP) School in Bahal Pader Panchayat under Birmaharajpur block was established in 1972. It lacks enough classrooms, a boundary wall, adequate toilets, a safe drinking water supply, a kitchen and sufficient teachers, disrupting students’ learning.

The school owns no land. The original site, used since 1972, had limited space and was the subject of a land dispute, so a new building was constructed elsewhere and the school was shifted there in 2008. That building, however, sits on private land belonging to two villagers, who have reportedly refused to allow additional buildings or construction of other infrastructure.

For this reason, the school has received no government grant for last 12 years. The school originally taught students from Class I to Class V. Later, classes from VI to VIII were added to the school in 2008. Sixty-seven students are now enrolled across nine classes, including Shishu Vartika, but the school has only four teachers. The headmaster is also tied up with office and non-teaching duties, further affecting instruction. The school has four rooms, one of which is used as an office. That room also stores midday meal supplies and other items, leaving three rooms for the nine classes. Students from as many as three classes sit together in one room, affecting lessons. The roofs in all the classrooms leak during the monsoon, raising concerns about students’ safety as well as their education.

Without a boundary wall, cattle wander freely onto the campus, leading to a dirty, unsafe and unhygienic condition. Residents have also alleged that anti-social elements gather there at night. The school has no kitchen. Midday meals are prepared in unhygienic conditions. It has no separate toilets for boys and girls. The existing toilet is in a dilapidated state, forcing students to carry buckets of water to a nearby forest to relieve them. The school has one tube well which is connected to a water tank. Even as kidney disease spreads in the area, students are deprived of clean drinking water. The school also has no playground of its own. Headmaster Padmanabha Mishra said the school has neither its own land nor enough classrooms. He said the lack of a boundary wall has left the campus unsafe. “Land must be provided for the school, along with the required classrooms and other basic facilities,” he said.

School management committee president Bijay Pradhan said the school has been neglected for a long time. He said repeated complaints to various public representatives and administrative officials have gone unheeded. “No official shows any real concern for the school,” said Khirod Pradhan, a former student. Ghanashyam Meher, the District Education Officer (in charge), said an inquiry would be conducted into the school’s problems.