Unsafe school building forces kids to study in make-shift classrooms

BHAWANIPATNA: Administrative lapse seems to be playing with the future of 161 students of Latkabahali upgraded primary school in Kalahandi's Kesinga block. In the absence of a permanent school building for the past three years, these students and their three teachers have to make do with rooms provided by individuals.

In 2015, owing to the dilapidated condition of the government-run school building, officers from the education department closed it down keeping in mind students' safety. But in three years they could not start work on a new building. Since then, students were forced to attend classes in rooms provided by the villagers, one of whom got his house built under Indira Awas Yojana.

Jajati Kesari Suna, president of the school management committee said, "We requested the house owner to allow us to use his room, but how long could we keep him waiting."

So, after two years, the owner told them to vacate his home. "We approached the officials requesting them to help us construct a new building, but all their assurances came to nought," Suna said.

Disappointed, the school management decided to shift to another house which had been newly constructed. But after holding classes there for a year, the owner has now asked them to vacate the place within the next two months.

"Where will these students study?" asked Hara Prasad Shah, the school headmaster. "Due to shortage of rooms, we shifted students from Classes VI to VIII to another school, which is four km away. Only students from I-V are studying here," Shah added.

Kalahandi district collector Anjan Kumar Manik said fund had been allocated for construction of a new school building two years back. "I have instructed the officials to start the construction as soon as possible," Manik said.

Nila Madhab Panda, the block education officer of Kesinga, said Rs 6 lakh was allocated for the school but it could not be utilised in time because getting suitable land was a problem. "A piece of land near the existing building has been acquired around six months back. The process of allocating fresh grant is on. As soon as it happens, we will start the building's construction," Panda said.