Hit by infra blues, govt school to see changed fortunes

Facing serious infrastructure blues in the absence of adequate funds from the government for the past several years, a Dholewal-based government primary school is likely to witness a change in its fortunes soon as a school alumnus along with a US-based NRI and others have decided to pitch in for the purpose.
The school has just six rooms for its 462 students. One of these rooms was a head teacher’s office, but was converted into a classroom to adjust students, especially in the winters. While 63 students of Class I study in one room, 73 Class II students are accommodated in another room. Third room dedicated for Class III has 68 students. The situation is worse for students studying in Class IV, V and pre-primary classes as 81, 89 and 88 students, respectively, are accommodated in three rooms.
The school has inadequate furniture too, that leaves several students to sit on the floor.
Harpreet Kaur, head teacher, GPS Dholewal, Ludhiana 1 block, said, “There is only one office and six classrooms in total. There is no staff room for teachers. We have not received any grant for the classrooms so far. We got grant just for regular repair of the school building.”
“In case we get support, we can repair the existing rooms, windows, install water filters, flooring and construct new toilets and classrooms. A better infrastructure will help us admit more students in the school,” she added.
Taraki Lal Thapar, a member of Dholewal Welfare society, and 1959-batch passout of this school, NRI Gurinderjeet Singh and representatives of some NGOs visited the school recently.
Thapar said, “We have decided to give the school a facelift.” Gurinderjeet Singh said, “We will start repair of windowpanes soon to give students some relief from the chill.”
Teachers said every class has two sections, but both sections have to be clubbed together due to lack of room. On days, when teacher of a particular section feels the need, the classes are held in the verandah. Teachers claimed that though people want to help the school by donating desks, but they back out as the school lacks adequate space for the same in the absence of classrooms.
The school has three washrooms, one each for male students, female students and staff.
Teachers have used polythene on windows to stop chilly winds and utilised the racks to put books in classes in the absence of a library.