“70 students, two teachers and a cowshed below: Students say poor infrastructure is affecting their studies and health”
Tauseef Ahmad
Srinagar, Aug 25: More than 70 students at a government primary school in Bandipora are studying in a single classroom in a building where a cowshed operates on the ground floor, with students and residents raising concerns over the lack of basic infrastructure and the safety of the building.
The school has reportedly been functioning in the same building for more than five decades. With only two teachers and limited classroom space, students from different classes are being taught in the same room.
Students said the lack of space and continuous disturbance affects their studies. They also complained about the smell from the cowshed below, saying it continuously affects their health.
“The building is not safe, and the smell from the cowshed continuously affects us. We cannot study properly because of the disturbance and the conditions here,” Sabreena, a class 4th student said.
Another student Mehvish said, “We have to study together in one classroom. One teacher teaches some subjects while the other teaches other subjects. It becomes difficult to read and write properly.”
The students have demanded that the government identify suitable land and construct a safe school building so they can continue their education in a proper learning environment.
Local social and political activist Aashiq Hussain said the issue had been continuously ignored by politicians and authorities.
“For more than five decades, this school has remained in the same condition. The politicians have continuously ignored the problems faced by these students,” Hussain said.
He urged the authorities to identify state land in the area and construct a proper school building for the students.
“The authorities should identify some state land and construct a school building for these poor tribal students. They deserve a safe place to study,” he said.
Meanwhile Chief Education Officer Bandipora Mohd Rafeeq, said the government was continuously working to improve education and infrastructure in the district.
However, he said the absence of suitable land in the area had emerged as a major hurdle in constructing a new school building.
“If the local residents identify some suitable land, we will prepare a proposal on an urgent basis to resolve the crisis,” the Chief Education Officer said.
The students and residents have urged LG Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and District administration Bandipora to find a permanent solution to the problem and ensure that the school has adequate classrooms, a safe building and a suitable learning environment.
