Exposing the sorry state of primary education in Subarnapur, the home turf of Water Resources and Housing and Urban Development Minister Niranjan Pujari, several schools function in unsafe buildings without basic facilities due to neglect of the district administration.
Putting their lives at risk, many children studying in Government Primary Schools under Tarbha block attend classes in unsafe and dilapidated building.
One of the glaring examples is Government Primary School in Pua village under Tarbha block. Despite being only 10 km from the block headquarters, the school lies in utter neglect with the administration turning a blind eye to its condition. The only room in the thatched school building serves both as class room and kitchen where the noon meals are cooked for students. As many 60 students are enrolled from classes I to V of the school.
Drinking water and toilet facilities are a distant dream for the 60 children enrolled in the school, which also lacks black board and chairs.
Siba Danga, a villager of Pua, said while the school building construction is yet to be completed, the children are forced to study in unsafe building. Water is leaking through the cracked asbestos roof and portions of the wall have peeled off. The building even lacks a door and widows, Danga added.
Similar is the situation of Government Primary School, Polabandh in Kumbharmunda gram panchayat of the block. Its building is also under construction and consequently, a dilapidated building is the only option left to be used by the students and teachers.
As many 30 students have enrolled from Class I to V of the school. However, only two teachers manage the school while construction of the toilet has been abandoned midway for more than a year. The school building, which has no proper wall, is surrounded by bushes.
Sources said the students are unable to concentrate on their studies due to unhygienic surroundings and lack of basic facilities.
Contacted, Block Education Officer (BEO) Keshab Chandra Meher said construction of the building for the school is at a final stage.Once the plastering of walls and flooring is completed, classes would be held smoothly.
“We have to arrange additional funds to complete construction of the school building. For this, we have already written to our higher officials. The funds will be released shortly,” he added.