Primary school in Baramulla outskirts operates from a single room

Baramulla, Apr 4: Away from the hustle and bustle, Government Primary School in the outskirts of the Baramulla town has remained the victim of official apathy since its establishment in the Nadihal area. Amid government claims of bringing reforms and plugging infrastructural gaps in the schools, this primary school operates from a single room and the enrollment has also started declining.

The school is at a distance of two kilometers from the main highway connecting Nadihal and nine kilometers away from the main town and the office of the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla. A single visit to this school depicts the official apathy faced by this school which is surrounded by the two private schools outside its boundary walls.

Despite facing competition from the two private schools, government primary school maintained its enrollment from 90 to 100 over the last few years.

However, given the lack of accommodation, the student enrollment has started declining in this school as it no longer attracts students for admissions. Over the years, the enrollment has declined from 90 to 70 in the current year. All these students are accommodated in the single room available and at times the students attend the classes under open sky. Taking classes on their desks and benches is a distant dream for the students of this school.

One might find it hard to believe that such a school still exists. But this is how the students at a government-run school in the Nadibal area in Baramulla outskirts go about studying daily.

The department has posted three teachers for these students who at times take classes jointly in a congested room. A visit to the school depicts the grim scenario of the education sector not only in north Kashmir but in J&K. The infrastructural standards of this school punctures the tall claims of the government for taking the education sector to new heights. The teachers said they try their best to maintain the enrollment of this school despite having two private schools located adjacent to this school. "But the lack of accommodation plays spoilsport. The parents do not prefer to enroll their kids in this school when they see the enrolled students taking classes under open sky," the teacher said. According to locals, the issue was highlighted earlier and a grievance was submitted in the office of J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG).

"After that some process to construct the school building was started but construction was never started till date," a local resident said. Chief Education Baramulla, Altaf Hussain Tara when contacted said a team from the planning wing of the education department will be deputed to the school to ascertain the ground situation. "In majority of the cases, the department is not able to construct school buildings due to non-availability of the land," CEO Baramulla told Greater Kashmir. He said the department has no dearth of funds but non-availability of land stalls the process. "I will seek a report from the planning department and see what best can be done for this school," he said.