Over 180 kids brave chill to attend classes in the open

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Rajpura, November 21

Over 180 students at the Government Elementary School in Dhakansu Kalan village near Rajpura town of the district are forced to attend classes while sitting on the floor in open in this cold weather. 

Attending classes in open in this weather not only poses health risks, but also affects the quality of education being provided to the students at the school.

Despite Education Minister promised to provide makeshift arrangement to the kids nothing has been done so far. 

The school rooms have been declared unsafe by the authorities concerned in 2015, however, nothing has been done in this regard since then.

In June, this year, the school authorities had started classes in open fearing risk of collapse of the school building in the rainy season.

The school staff said after The Tribune had highlighted the issue the Education Department officials removed tents that were erected to provide a temporary roof to the students. They were removed to avoid any embarrassment.

One teacher, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The whole campaign of turning the schools into smart ones seems to be a hoax as the Education Department could not even provide three rooms to these 180 students. What kind of system we are living in?”

Meanwhile, former State Human Rights Commission member and BJP national vice-president, Avinash Rai Khanna, had lodged a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission in October in this regard, but nothing has been done by the officials, so far.

District Education Officer (Primary) Amarjeet Singh, said, “We had sent the proposal to the Education Department in October. Now, it’s their duty to release the grant for the repair of the school.”

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Krishan Kumar, said, “Four rooms for school have been already approved under NABARD XXIII for which the bills are lying pending at the treasury.”

Makeshift tents removed

• Rooms in the school were declared unsafe by the authorities concerned in 2015. However, nothing has been done in this regard since then.
• In June, this year, the school authorities had started classes in open fearing risk of collapse of the school building in the rainy season.
• The school staff said after The Tribune had highlighted the issue the Education Department officials removed tents that were erected to provide a temporary roof to the students. They were removed to avoid any embarrassment.