Bandipora school struggles with infrastructure crunch

Bandipora, Oct 18: A primary school in the Hajin educational zone of north Kashmir's Bandipora district is grappling with severe space shortage that is affecting student learning.

The Ganie Mohalla Primary School in Saderkoot Bala has a roll of 111 students but only three classrooms, one of which is designated as an office, according to locals.

Parents and residents have been demanding the construction of additional classrooms to enhance the educational experience for years, but their requests have gone unheeded.

Villagers have expressed frustration that students from different grades are combined in a single classroom due to the lack of space and are taught by only four teachers assigned to the school.

Umar Ahmad, a local resident, shared his concerns, stating, "These children represent our future." He added, "It is unjustifiable on the part of the administration to allow them to study in this environment."

"How is it possible for students to learn like this?" he asked, adding, "If there had been two more classrooms, it wouldn't be a big issue, but just three classrooms for over a hundred students is too much to bear."

One of the students remarked, "It is challenging to concentrate and understand when we are all in one room."

According to locals, the school also has inadequate sanitation facilities, with students sharing a single bathroom, while midday meals are prepared in a tin shed.

Furthermore, the absence of a playground limits physical activities for the children, with officials claiming they are helpless in this regard.

Residents have been demanding more classrooms, a proper kitchen, washrooms, and a playground for the school.

Mehboob Khan, in charge of the Zonal Education Office in Hajin, acknowledged the school's space issues, noting that it operates with just three classrooms, a single washroom, and a kitchen in a tin shed.

He stated that the government has sanctioned a separate building with two rooms on the first floor and two on the upper floor, but the process to execute the project has not yet started.

Mehboob also mentioned that the playground will remain an issue due to the limited land available, which can accommodate only a two-room structure in addition to the existing three-room building.