By SAMIR KUMAR PADHI, OP
Tensa: The Government High School at Dengula in Koida block of Sundaragada district is grappling with a severe shortage of classrooms and teachers, disrupting the education of 358 students. The school has been functioning without a headmaster for the past five years, while pupils from multiple classes are forced to share cramped classrooms.
More than 100 students from different classes reportedly attend lessons together in a single room, creating serious challenges for effective teaching and learning.
Parents have expressed concern that the deteriorating academic environment could jeopardise the students’ future. Established in 1952 by the ST and SC Development Department to provide quality education to tribal children, the institution has completed 74 years but continues to face severe infrastructure and staffing shortages.
The school caters to students from Class VI to Class X, including 255 boys and 103 girls. Despite having 358 students, the school has only three classrooms for teaching. Students of Classes VI and IX share one room, while those of Classes VII and X sit together in another. The third classroom is used by Class VIII students.
The school requires 12 teachers but currently has only four, according to the report. Of the two sanctioned BSc BEd teaching positions, only one is occupied, while both BA BEd posts remain vacant. Four matriculation CT posts and an ISC CT post are also vacant. The school is additionally facing a shortage of clerical staff.
The situation has raised questions over the utilisation of more than Rs 5 crore reportedly spent on the institution under the 5T Mo School Abhiyan six years ago. Although classrooms were upgraded with modern facilities, blackboards and boundary walls, the shortage of teachers and adequate teaching space continues to undermine the school’s functioning.
The institution has produced several prominent personalities, including sitting Bonai MLA Laxman Munda and former Bonai MLA Bhimsen Choudhury. However, parents allege that the deteriorating conditions have discouraged students from continuing their education at the school. Koida Welfare Extension Officer (WEO) Rajesh Rout said he had joined the post three months ago and was aware of the shortage of classrooms and teachers.
He said three teachers had since been appointed and that he had formally informed senior officials about the problems, adding that steps would be taken to resolve them. Bonai MLA Laxman Munda, an alumnus of the school, recalled that the institution had a strong academic environment during his student days, with adequate teachers and hostel facilities.
He said he had discussed the school’s present difficulties with the District Collector and expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved soon. Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs of India, has also assured that new buildings would be constructed and teachers appointed at the school at the earliest.