Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 1: Notwi-thstanding the tall claims of the Government in streamlining the education sector in the Valley, Government Middle School Krumhura in Handwara area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district craves for staff and basic infrastructure.
The two Primary Schools of nearby areas have been clubbed with Middle School leading to cramping of space and difficulties in holding classes.
Located about 18 kilometers from the main town of Handwara, the school caters to over a dozen villages of the area and has only four shabby rooms available for about 250 students.
Locals of the area lamented that the lack of proper infrastructure and teaching staff is taking a heavy toll on the education of the students. “The students have to go in open for the toilet as there is no washroom available. Despite a reservoir of PHE Department available nearby, the school lacks drinking water facility,” Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, a local said, adding: “It would have cost authorities a small amount in providing water from the reservoir but they are least bothered.”
Another local said that they had repeatedly requested authorities to redress the problems of the school but authorities turned a blind eye towards the sufferings of the students.
Abdul Jabbar Sheikh, a teacher of the school said that the two Primary Schools which are being clubbed to the Middle School do not have their own buildings. “Primary School Rainawari was shifted as there was a scuffle in their own school building between the authorities and the land owner. The other Primary School of Bhat mohalla has no building,” he said, adding: “The school is without a Principal, which is one of the reasons for the problems in the school.”
Locals also said that the school lacks other facilities including proper matting, hygienic kitchen for mid-day meals, proper fencing, electricity supply and tidy classrooms etc.
Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Rajwara while admitting the lack of facilities in the school said they had already sent a requisition for the infrastructure to the Government and the annual grant for the maintenance of the schools is yet to come. “We are repeatedly asking Government for the infrastructure of the school, besides, the annual grant for the maintenance of the schools has not been given yet. I personally visited the school recently and took stock of the problems there and accordingly forwarded the report to the higher authorities,” he said, adding: “There are two washrooms available in the school but are locked due to non-availability of water supply for the school. The whole village is deprived by the adequate water supply.”
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