Berhampur: The Education Department has taken several steps to minimise the distance between Matric examination centres and schools this year, but the safety situation at several centres is reportedly inadequate.
The Aska Road Municipal High School at Taluka Square in Berhampur is one such centre where hundreds of students and parents are coming for Matric examination.
However, the school is near to the National Highway-59, posing a risk to the safety of students.
There are 229 Matric examination centres in Ganjam district. Aska Road Municipal High School is one among them. About 160 students of City High School and 81 students of Kalinga Sishu Vidya Mandir are coming to this centre for examinations.
While the students are allowed to enter the campus at 9.15 am, they are seen reaching the centre well in advance. Parents are also coming with them.
Buses coming from Aska, Hinjlicut, Bhanjnagar, Phulbani, Nayagarh, Digapahandi and Chandragiri generally enter the town through the first gate.
Heavy crowd is being witnessed every day on the stretch from first gate to gate bazaar.
Aska Road Municipal High School is located at Taluka Square, a crowded place where bus passengers prefer to alight.
Having no place to wait, students and parents would have to stand near the road till the school opens at 9.15 am. It is also creating traffic problems here.
A good number of buses are plying at top speed on the Highway. Considering the scenario, it is also difficult for the students and parents to cross the road.
Though Bad Bazaar police station is on this square, the cops haven’t yet taken any action to ensure safety of the students.
When contacted, teacher Usharani Mahapatra said, “Students have been asked to reach the centre by 9.15 am. But they are coming before that. Parents are also coming with them. For managing traffic, two policemen have been deployed. No such untoward incidents have occurred or reported from here so far. Utmost care is being given to the students’ safety,” she added.
PNN
