RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.17: The classroom teaching is getting hampered at a government-run middle school at Karamtoli Chowk in the heart of Jharkhand capital as its building faces an imminent cave-in threat.
About 500 children are on the verge of getting deprived of classroom teaching as the school is on the verge of being shut down indefinitely because of the dilapidated condition of the building.
“The Education Department has made a mockery of the Right to Education Act. Children are facing problems in getting education for the dilapidated structure,” said a locality resident.
“The school building is unsafe. A number of cracks have appeared on its walls. Plaster is peeling off the ceiling causing a threat to the head of children. Any day major accidents can take place, “the resident said.
School principal Sufia Khatoon confirmed the situation saying she had drawn the attention of the higher authorities taking the problem but so far nothing has been done.
“After repeated information, the district superintendent of education had sent a junior engineer for budget estimation but so far nothing has been done,” Khatoon said, showing the different corners of the school building.
“Children are attending joint classes as in the double storey building hardly four rooms are useful,” Khatoon further said.
Ravi Kujur, a guardian, said: “Most of the students getting education are from poor family backgrounds. They want their children to be educated. The condition of the school is not good. If poor parents see a security threat they will stop sending their children to school and poor schoolchildren will be left with no option other than sitting idle at their home as their parents cannot afford sending them to private schools.”
District education officer Kamla Singh could not be contacted for his comments. An official at his office said he was busy in a meeting. The official, however, said that the matter is in the knowledge of the office and a proper step is being taken to ensure that children do not face any hurdle in getting their education.
The Administrative officer of Jharkhand Education Project Council, Jayant Kumar Mishra, could not be available for his comment. Officials said he was also busy with meetings.
