School running in temple premises, classes under trees, severe shortage of toilet building.

There is such a school in Siwan city, where it has become difficult to differentiate between worship and children’s education. This school, which has been running in the temple premises for years, is still facing many problems due to not having its own independent building. Children who are forced to study sitting near the Havan Kund, paint a picture of the poor condition of the education system.

This is the situation of the Government Primary School located in Ramnagar of Siwan Sadar Block. Local people say that this is the first school established in the area after independence. But in terms of facilities it has still not progressed beyond the initial stage. There is a severe lack of basic facilities like building, bench, kitchen, handpump and toilet for the children and teachers in the school.

Neighbors’ house for toilet
A huge years old tree in the temple premises has become the base of a children’s school. Children complete their classes sitting on the ground in the shade of this tree. There is a continuous flow of devotees in the campus from morning till evening, due to which the study environment is naturally affected. People reaching the temple worship Lord Shiva and Hanuman, while on the other hand, a few steps away, children are seen engrossed in their books. Due to the absence of toilets in the school, the children and teachers have to take help of the houses of the nearby localities. Due to the school premises being in the temple premises, permission for construction of toilet could not be obtained. Principal Abhishek Kumar Gupta says that until the school is shifted to some other place.

Teaching work gets interrupted as soon as the program starts.
To drink water, school children and teachers have to depend on the hand pump installed in the temple. Due to lack of kitchen facilities, the daily mid-day meal is also often disrupted. Many times the situation becomes such that children are not able to get food. The school has to close its classes as soon as any religious or social program is organized in the temple premises. Many times children’s education gets affected and holidays have to be declared. The problem increases during rainy days. Due to fear of water logging or getting wet in the premises, sometimes all the classes have to be gathered in a single room. If necessary, leave also has to be taken.

School running under the verandah and tree of the community building
A class of the school is also conducted in the verandah of the community building built by the Legislative Councilor about eight years ago. At the same time, most of the children study under the tree. At present there are 61 children enrolled in the school, who are responsible for four teachers. The headmaster says that the department was informed about the problem several times, but till now no concrete steps have been taken. Innocent children are having to bear the brunt of the lack of coordination between law and order and education. Local resident Shukla ji Prasad says that this school is running in the same condition since the time of independence. I myself have studied here and today my son is also studying under the same conditions. The situation has not changed even after so many years, this is very sad.

Demand for better system
Villagers and parents say that children’s education should be provided in a safe and organized environment. They want the school to be shifted to a new building as soon as possible. Children can get a safe learning environment with basic facilities. Despite government claims and schemes, this school is still deprived of basic facilities. It is expected that the concerned department will take cognizance of the situation and provide building, kitchen, toilet and other facilities to the school soon. So that the future of children can get a better direction.