Not ruins, these are government-run schools in Gurugram where kids attend classes every day

GURUGRAM: On Monday morning, two children were killed and three injured when a wall of an unrecognised private school in Noida — KM Public School — collapsed.
While rooting out such illegal schools is something governments have to do on a war footing, the condition of some state-run schools in the city is no better. Buildings with roofs partially caved in, cracks running across walls, leaking ceilings, broken urinals in washrooms and crumbling walls are what several government schools serve to the hundreds of students who turn up for classes every day. District elementary education officer Prem Lata Yadav, when asked about the state of infrastructure of government-run schools in the city, said, “The reason behind the poor condition of school buildings is lack of funds. We’ve written to the education department to look into the issue.”

Government Senior Secondary School , Islampur

Concrete chunks can be seen falling off the ceiling, with cracks running across the walls, at GSSS Islampur. The building has 15 rooms with 550 students in classes VI-XI. Washrooms were stinking, there were no faucets and urinals were broken. The school principal accept the condition of the school’s infrastructure is not good. “A proposal to rebuild the school building has been placed before the authorities. This building will be brought down soon. MCG officials have taken measurements for the new construction a few months ago,” said Kanwal Nain, principal. “This building is small, old, and built on low land, because of which, at times, water accumulates at the entrance,” he added.

Government Primary School, Satlaka

The 46 students of GPS Satlaka have to brace a school building falling apart at its seams. There are five classrooms, but all classes take place in only one, as the condition of the rest is terrible. “One can spot cow dung on the floors, broken benches, blackboards and doors. Across the building, the seepage is so heavy that during monsoons this year, the roof of one classroom collapsed,” said Virender Singh, guest teacher.

TOI also spotted dogs roaming in the classrooms. “This entire building is unsafe and unfit for tiny tots. Since there is no guard, cows wander in and take shelter inside at night. I’m not paid to clean up the dung,” said Rahisa, the school’s sole sanitation staff. Since the building was constructed in 1972, no teacher has spent more than a year in this school.

Shivji Park Primary School

Shivji Park Primary School doesn’t even have its own building. It operates out of Government Senior Secondary School Kadipur, whose classrooms are in a shambles. “Students are forced to sit in the school hallway or even in the open, as none of the eight classrooms we’ve been allotted are usable,” said head teacher Satpal. Even teachers of the Kadipur school are unaware when the crumbling walls were last repaired.

Govt Primary School, Kadipur

One look at the building of GPS Kadipur is enough to tll you that a disaster is waiting to happen. “There are 180 students in this school. Every now and then, chunks of plaster fall off, making it dangerous for them. The old building has been declared a threat, and a new building is being constructed. Unfortunately, construction work stopped six months ago,” said a teacher, requesting anonymity.

Govt Primary Feroze Gandhi School Shivaji Park

The 70 tiny tots who study in GPFGS Shivaji Park, have to cross mounds of garbage and pools of stagnant water to enter the premises every day. “Every day, locals throw trash in front of the school. We’ve spoken with the authorities, but this doesn’t stop,” said a teacher, requesting anonymity.