Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Sept 19: The Government Middle School in the Bunpora Dangerpora area of Sopore in North Kashmir, established in 2004, faces a critical infrastructure shortage that is severely hampering the education of nearly 100 students.
While the school underwent some improvements in 2010, including the addition of three new rooms, it continues to face significant developmental challenges. Most concerning is the relocation of 7th and 8th grade students to other schools, which has left the remaining students in a precarious educational situation.
Despite the partial upgrade, the school still struggles with severe shortcomings in its infrastructure. With only three rooms available to accommodate approximately 100 students, the lack of adequate classroom space remains a major obstacle to their learning. In addition, a high-tension electricity line runs dangerously close to the entrance gate, which has previously resulted in a tragic incident involving a cow being electrocuted outside the premises.
Students and concerned citizens have expressed their deep distress and frustration over the deteriorating conditions of the school. “The noise from neighbouring classes distracts us and disrupts our education. We earnestly request the government to provide us with land so that a new and improved infrastructure can be constructed,” Sadaf, a student, said.
Iqra, another student, shared similar concerns. “Despite being a middle school, we only have three rooms. We face numerous problems here, and it is seriously affecting our education,” she said.
Residents of Bunpora Dangerpora are equally perplexed by the situation. They wonder why the authorities have allocated land for the panchayat but have neglected to do the same for the school, which plays a vital role in the education of local children.
The Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Baramulla, Balbir Singh, said that the non-availability of land is the major impediment to the expansion of the school, and once land becomes available, the expansion will begin.
“The school was constructed under the SSA scheme, and land was provided by the community as there was no provision for purchasing the land. Now we do not have more land for the expansion of the school, and if land is made available, we would consider expanding it,” he said.
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