Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 26: The Education Department has abandoned the new school building built for the government boys’ middle school Habak on Srinagar’s outskirts, forcing students to cram into small classrooms.
The establishment of smart classrooms at this 70-year-old school was chosen to provide cutting-edge teaching and learning materials for the development of education, but owing to a shortage of space, teachers are unable to utilize government-provided equipment, such as smart boards.
The school, which has 82 students on its roll, is housed in a single-story building with about seven classrooms, one of which is designated for office and the other for the library. “The five rooms must be able to handle 10 classes from junior kindergarten to 8th grade, with two classes meeting at once. Concentration on the subjects is impossible when two classes are held simultaneously. The school has been classified as a model school, however, there is not enough room for a smart classroom,” an official told the Excelsior.
He said that although the government had funded and finished construction on a new facility for the school 10 ten years ago, it had never been used for reasons that were better known to the administration. “Only minor finishing tasks, like electrical and sanitary fitting, remain to be done on the construction. The administration had abandoned the building, which may have resolved the school’s space problems,” he said.
The residents allege that drug addicts and other antisocial elements are misusing the abandoned building, which could harm the growth of students. “Additionally, because of the city’s growing dog population, buildings have turned into shelters for them, endangering the safety of both kids and teachers,” a parent said.
According to the locals, the buildings’ state plainly demonstrates how seriously the government is taking the issue of education in underprivileged neighborhoods. “Students from poor families are attaining education in the school, and that is the reason for not taking interest in this school,” another parent said.
He added that the building’s condition is evidence of how the education department is now doing in the region. “Before it could be used, the building started to deteriorate. What about the money that went into making it? he wondered.
The parents alleged that despite their repeated warnings to the concerned officials about the school’s inadequate infrastructure, nothing has changed. “We call on the current administration to address the situation so that kids don’t endure any more suffering,” the parents said.
Zonal Education Officer Gulab Bagh, Ghulam Hassan Lone, told Excelsior that he will look into the matter. “I will obtain information from the school administration and determine what the problem with the buildings is,” he said.
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