SIBA PRASAD MOHANTY, OP
Kaima: Despite repeated government assurances of quality education for all, the plight of Government Primary School at Dihanarsinghpur in Patunia gram panchayat under Dharmasala block of Jajpur district exposes the grim reality of infrastructure deficiencies in rural schools.
Established on January 29, 1994, the school has completed 32 years, but continues to struggle with basic facilities.
With 41 students enrolled from Sishu Vatika (kindergarten) to Class V, children from all six levels are compelled to study together in a single classroom due to a shortage of rooms.
The school also lacks a regular headmaster.
Bishnu Prasad Sethi is managing its affairs as acting headmaster, while assistant teacher Sadananda Hota has been deputed to teach.
In the absence of a separate office, three cupboards containing official records and documents occupy space inside the only classroom.
Construction of an additional classroom began around three years ago to address the shortage, but the project remains incomplete, with work abandoned shortly after the foundation was laid.
Other facilities are in an equally deplorable condition.
The painted boundary wall is deteriorating due to poor maintenance, while the toilet complex, built at a cost of several lakhs of rupees, is dysfunctional, forcing students to go outside to relieve themselves.
The drinking water facility is also not functioning properly.
Although a separate kitchen is available for preparing mid-day meals, students have no designated dining space and are forced to eat on the verandah or in the open, particularly inconveniencing them during the rainy season.
The school also lacks a playground. Flooding compounds the problem, with water inundating the school premises and adjoining road during prolonged rainfall.
During this year’s floods, water remained on the premises for nearly 20 days, forcing teachers to conduct classes at a nearby Pala mandap.
The poor conditions have reportedly discouraged parents from enrolling their children, with several families opting for private schools.
Acting headmaster Sethi said higher authorities had been informed about the classroom shortage.
School management committee president Samina Parida also highlighted the lack of classrooms and dysfunctional toilets and drinking water facilities.
She said many village families were choosing private schools because the problems remained unresolved and urged the district administration, Education Department and local MLA to intervene.
Patunia sarpanch Baishali Rout said an additional classroom was being constructed with Rs 5 lakh sanctioned from the panchayat samiti fund.
Work worth around Rs 4 lakh had been completed, and the remaining work would resume after fresh funds were sanctioned.
Block Education Officer (BEO) Abhaya Kumar Behera said he would write to the district Collector, drawing attention to the incomplete project and seeking completion of the construction work.