Pattan Govt. school has 3 class rooms for 120 students
Suhail Khan
BARAMULLA, Apr 1: Despite tall claims made by the state education department about facilities available in its schools, Government Middle School (GMS) Dargam village of Pattan tehsil in district Baramulla has only three classrooms available for 120 students enrolled in it.
The school lacks basic amenities and infrastructure and the school staff is compelled to adjust its eight classes comprised of 120 students in just three room accommodation. “This scenario speaks volumes about the infrastructure available government-run schools here,” Abdul Rashid, a local of Dargam told Kashmir Despatch.
Ghulam Hassan another resident of Dargam village of Pattan tehsil said the students enrolled in GMS Dargam are facing paucity of accommodation and are compelled to share the little space available to us.
Teachers of this school while talking to Kashmir Despatch said: “How can we teach three classes in just one classroom and that too at one time which always results in chaotic conditions, confusion, and noise.”
“It is indeed difficult to teach three classes at the same time and we approached everyone in the administration. We are doing our best to get all the facilities here so that the same are provided to our students,” said a teacher at GMS Dargam.
Insha an 8th standard student of GMS Dargam told this newspaper that they lack basic infrastructure like classrooms not to talk of modern facilities like computer labs or science laboratories. “We are taught all subjects here in just one classroom. Since there are a large number of students enrolled here, we are unable to comprehend our lessons or concentrate on lectures given to us,” she added.
She further said: “When one teacher is delivering a lecture in one classroom, normally there should be no noises nearby. But here we always face a situation like we are caught in some fish market. Our precious time is wasted as we face immense hardships due to the unavailability of infrastructure.”
When Contacted Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla Ghulam Mohammad Lone told Kashmir Despatch: “I have been informed about this issue and already a team including ZEO concerned and SDM are working hard to solve this problem at an earliest.” He said that earlier some locals provided land for construction of a school building but that land was not feasible for the construction. He, however, assured that the problem of accommodation of the said school will be addressed very soon.