The Government Middle School Dangarpora in southern Shopian is without building since its establishment in 1966. The rented space it operates from is small and bereft of basic infrastructure.
To deal with the space crunch, the teachers hold the classeson the veranda and courtyard of a residential house.
A source said, “In 2011, the school was upgraded tomiddle level but without adding any new infrastructure to it.”
Teachers voiced concern over the failure of the authoritiesto provide the new school building for the students.
The school administration has sent countless requests andreminders to the education department to resolve the problem but to no avail.
The students study under the open sky, with walls as theirblackboards. They keep their schoolbags on the dust.
“We have 54 students but only four rooms. There is nooffice, washroom, or storeroom. The students here have no option but to adjustin a single room. Often we combine three classes in a single room,” said RaviBhat school headmaster.
A teacher said the school is without kitchen facility formid-day meals (MDM), which again hampers the normal school work. “Besides, thestudents fail to participate in morning assembly or other co-curricularactivities.”
On the other hand, the parents said their children do notknow what classroom experience is and what actually the school is. “There is noclassroom environment for our children, because there is no good infrastructurefor our children in the school,” said Bashir Ahmad, a parent.
The compound of the school, he said, has no boundary walls.The school has no washroom or other facilities “which has caused negativeimpact on the studies of students and their future as well,” he said.
The students, he said, prefer to join schools in other villages.
Locals stated that the government focuses more on showcasingachievements in the education sector but there is no development visible on theground level.
Meanwhile, both locals and teachers have now appealedGovernor Satya Pal Malik to intervene into the issue. “We urge the governor toissue orders for shifting of the school to a new building,” they said.
When contacted officials at directorate of school educationKashmir assured that the matter will be resolved very soon.
“Our team will reach the spot and collect the detailsto resolve the matter,” they said.