Raisen Schools in Disrepair: Only 9 Out of 325 Proposals Receive Budget, Students Forced to Learn Under Trees

Government Schools in Raisen Face Severe Infrastructure Crisis

The abysmal condition of government schools in Raisen district is starkly revealing the reality behind claims of the Right to Education. The monsoon season has exposed systemic failures, with many school buildings suffering from leaks, a lack of adequate rooms, and some operating without any building structure at all, forcing students to learn under the open sky or in makeshift locations.

Out of 325 proposals sent by the District Education Center for the repair or new construction of school buildings, the government has only approved budgets for 9 schools. Most alarmingly, students from schools recognized at the national level are forced to study under trees or in open fields.

The disarray in the district's government schools is such that over 51 school buildings are in a dilapidated state, while more than 25 schools lack any building of their own. This problem intensifies during the rainy season when water drips from the roofs. In such situations, children are either moved out of classrooms or sent home, disrupting their education.

Furthermore, due to a severe shortage of rooms, many schools are forced to conduct classes in open grounds, under trees, or in verandas. This not only negatively impacts educational quality but also raises serious concerns about the safety of the children.

National Award-Winning Teacher's School Struggles with Overcrowding

The primary school in Salegadh, once a model school in the district known for its innovations and excellent academic activities, is now grappling with a lack of basic facilities. A documentary was even made on this school in 2020 by the Union Ministry of Steel.

The teacher posted here, Neeraj Saxena, who received the National Teacher Award in 2022, faces a shortage of adequate space to teach his students. The school has only two small rooms, with a total capacity for approximately 40 children, while 102 students are currently enrolled. This significant disparity means many children have to study in the open field or under trees even on normal days, with the situation becoming more critical during the monsoon.

Teacher Neeraj Saxena stated that if the school received just two additional rooms, children could have a better and safer learning environment. He has raised this demand multiple times, but no concrete solution has emerged yet.

Dilapidated School Building Forces Classes into a Veranda for Four Years

The primary school in Umrai Tola, under the Jan Shiksha Kendra Itkhedi, presents another grim example of the plight of government schools. The school building has been in a dilapidated state for the past four years, making it risky to hold classes for children inside.

The school's teacher, Taran Jatav, faces the challenge of finding alternative locations for students every year. Currently, classes are being held in the veranda of an old house belonging to a villager named Atique Khan, where around 24 children are studying. According to the teacher, applications have been sent to senior officials multiple times for the construction of a new school building, but the budget has not been approved yet.

During the rainy season, teaching in the veranda also presents various inconveniences that disrupt the learning-teaching process.

Only 9 Out of 325 Proposals Approved, a Cause for Concern

With the aim of improving the pitiable condition of government schools in the district, the District Education Center had submitted detailed proposals for the repair or new construction of 325 school buildings. These proposals included requirements for repairing dilapidated buildings, constructing additional rooms, and building new facilities for schools lacking any structure.

However, with the government approving funds for only 9 schools so far, the problems of the remaining schools remain unresolved. This situation raises a critical question: how can a safe and quality education system be ensured in schools where buildings have been dilapidated for a long time or where there are insufficient rooms for children?

The rainy season has brought the true plight of the schools to the forefront. Water is dripping from roofs in some places, while children are forced to sit under trees in others. In some locations, classes are being conducted in the verandas of village houses. Children, who are supposed to be provided with education in a safe and better environment by the system, are still struggling for basic facilities.

The most significant question is when the problems of the remaining schools will be resolved, given that proposals for the need and repair of hundreds of school buildings are ready in the district, yet only nine schools have received budgets. The condition of the school of a national award-winning teacher, with only two rooms for 102 children, horrifyingly depicts the real picture of infrastructure in government schools.

In such a scenario, it is extremely necessary that dilapidated and structure-less schools are assessed on a priority basis and funds are made available to them immediately. This will ensure that children's education is not a victim of weather vagaries or a lack of buildings, and they get an opportunity to learn in a safe and conducive environment.