The classes of Government Higher Secondary School, Dalhori, are being run from a Panchayat Ghar as the department has failed to provide the school with classrooms.
The accommodation crisis has increased after the departmentreportedly dismantled four rooms of the school to construct a new building,work for which has not been started yet.
Kulbir Singh, a local, said, “GHSS Dalhori was upgraded fromhigh school level in the year 2017-18. From the present session, 2019, the 11thclass has also been started in the school.”
Other locals said, “More than 200 students are presentlyenrolled in the school and the admission process for 11th class is going on.There are expectations that the number of students in 11th class will be over100.”
Lashing out at the concerned departments, the locals said,”At present, the school building does not have a classroom. The building onlyhouses an office, a kitchen and two toilets.”
“What is ironical is the fact that the school buildingsans classrooms. Five rooms were dismantled in March 2019 to construct a newbuilding under SMAGRA, but no work has started till date,” the localssaid, alleging that the Education department is showcasing callous approach.
They said that two classes, 9th and 10th, have been shiftedto four rooms of local Panchayat Ghar.
A teacher, while wishing anonymity, said that two classesare being run from a Panchayat Ghar, one from school verandah and remainingfrom the playground.
“We are left with no other option than to teachstudents in the playground amid summer season also,” the teacher said.
The Principal, Mohammad Hafeez, told Greater Kashmir: “Thehigher authorities have been informed about the accommodation crisis.”
He further said, “At present, the school lacks lecturers.Besides, five out of six posts of masters and several posts of teachers arelying vacant. Sometimes, we are left with no other option than to ask our peonsto teach the students.”
Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta, said thatthe Chief Education Officer, Rajouri, talked to the concerned ExecutiveEngineer who has informed that 10 rooms have been sanctioned under Samagra, butcould not be tendered as some change in plan is required.
“I will personally take up the matter and it will beresolved,” she assured.