Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 19 : In view of firing from the Pakistani side, the students of a number of Government schools are facing hardships for the last several weeks in Poonch and Rajouri sectors while a Govt High School situated closer to LoC in Balakote zone of Mendhar is almost lying non-functional for the last nearly two months.
There are many Government schools whose buildings are lying unsafe and due to shortage of rooms in some schools, the hapless children are made to sit in the open. In case of sudden unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side, these children flee and take shelter in even `unsafe’ rooms to protect themselves. They even remain trapped there for hours together till the firing stops. Some of the parents are so scared that they have stopped sending their children to schools.
Around 35 schools in this sector are facing this problem. Some of the schools have been shifted to safer locations or children adjusted in some other schools, but even then several schools are still facing the problem and the studies of children are badly hit. The future of these children has been jeopardized with these unfortunate developments all along the disturbed Line of Control. Not only this the villagers have stopped working in their fields closer to the LoC. Out of the total 35 schools along the LoC in this sector, two are High Schools while others are Middle/ Upper primary and Primary.
Govt High School Darati, which is situated closer to the LoC near Panjni Nallah is the worst affected. There are only two rooms for over 150 children while six rooms are in shambles/ unsafe. The plinth for three rooms and veranda was raised about one year back but the work has been abandoned by the District School Education authorities.
The Sarpanch of the village Shahdam Khan claimed that this school was upgraded hardly two years back. New building with three rooms and veranda was sanctioned under RAMSA scheme but it was abandoned due to unknown reasons.
The concerned ZEO claimed that due to firing it is not possible to take risk of construction work by contractor and labourers. The future of students appearing dark in view of these circumstances, he maintained.
He further disclosed that out of 11 sanctioned posts, seven are vacant while hardly four teachers are placed but even then the schools is non-functional for the last over two months now.
The children had narrow escape twice and they remained trapped inside during firing on several occasions. He said safety is more important than study and some of the parents have now shifted their kids to some other schools located in safer areas.
Zonal Education Officer Balakote Zone, Mehmood Ahmed Khan when contacted said that three rooms along with a veranda were sanctioned by the Education Department under RAMSA in Drati High school but work could not be taken up due to prevailing situation. He said the issue has been taken up again and the work would start there shortly. He however, avoided to give details of the project cost and the funds spent so far on the building.
Similar is the condition in Govt High School Baruti which lies on that side of the fence, closer to LoC. There are over eighty students now in this school and its four rooms are unsafe out of total six. Again many students have no option but to sit in the open. There is no compound wall and they are also directly exposed to Pakistani firing. They are also staying away from the school due to the terror of firing from Pakistani side. In Rajouri and Nowshera area also over a dozen schools have been under the threat and the locals are taking every possible precaution to stay away or remain inside in the safer zones.
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