School in Shair e Kashmir’s village has 6 rooms for 10 classes
Pulwama: In times of smart classrooms, a government High School in Shair e Kashmir, Mehjoor’s native village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district has been operating out of six rooms for ten classes with an enrolment of over 110.
The ordeal of the students at the High School Mitrigam can only be imagined when two to three classes are taught inside a single room simultaneously.
Locals said that students of two classes are crowded in one room where teachers teach them simultaneously.
The students also complained that in such a noisy condition, “It is impossible to grasp any lessons clearly”.
While on one hand, government talks about “smart classrooms”, they said that the school “is craving even for basic facilities”.
Teachers posted in the school confirmed that the school lacked the basic infrastructure even as it had attracted a good number of students as compared to the neighboring area.
They said that school had no accountant and no peon due to which teachers are forced to clean the school themselves.
A visit to the school depicts the grim scenario of the education sector in the J&K state. The infrastructural standards of this school puncture the tall claims of the government over taking the education sector to “new heights”.
While the institution needs accommodation of more than 12 to 15 rooms for students from KG class to 10th class, the department has provided only six rooms including office for the accommodation of the students.
As per locals land about two to three kanals were identified by locals but it was later rejected by concerned department for “lame excuses”, they said.
They said that a Panchayat building was available besides the school that can be given to school but needs renovation.
Chief Education Officer Pulwama Naseem Ul Gani said that due to non availability of land they were not able to construct new building for the school.
“Once land gets available, we will construct new building adding that shortage of class IV employee issue will be redressed soon,” he added.
Jahangeer Ganaie
