In e-learning era, students still sit on ground under open sky

ALLAHABAD: In an era of e-learning, students of a girls' school are still forced to attend classes under open sky. Every day, soon after reaching the school, they search for a dry piece of land amidst rain-water filled ground and littered cow dung and filth. The college administration blames lack of adequate number of classrooms and dilapidated condition of the 128-year-old building for the current state of things.
Hundreds of students of Government Girl's Inter College (GGIC), located in posh Civil Lines locality in the heart of the Sangam City, are forced to deal with the situation on daily basis. Due to shortage of seven rooms, the college administration is unable to provide classrooms for students of class VI to VIII. The school also lacks a boundary wall and hence stray cattle often join these students in open classes.
Principal Sudha Yadav said, "It is true that for the past several years, students are forced to sit under the sky amidst unhygienic condition. However, we are helpless. Though a building has been selected for shifting the school but no final decision has been taken so far." She added but despite all hindrances, the school has maintained 100 % result and is considered the best girls school in the city.
A visit to the campus is enough to gauge the gravity of the situation. Students of class sixth, seventh and eighth are found reading and writing on the ground under sky, trying hard to concentrate amidst blaring of horns and hustle and bustle of traffic on nearby roads.
Even the condition of rooms used by class IX to Class XII is quite bad. A senior teacher, on condition of anonymity, said, "Dilapidated building and leaking roofs have rendered these rooms useless. As a result, students of class six to eight have to sit in the open. There are two sections each of these classes."
She further said that in the past benches and desks were placed in the open for the students. However, the furniture has either been stolen or damaged. Hence, students have to sit on the ground. "Studying under the open sky is bothersome especially during monsoon. Every time the rain starts we make a rush towards classroom to avoid being drenched. Many a time, stray dogs and cattle create nuisance amidst an ongoing class. Traffic sound too is annoying," said a student.
Owing to the pitiable conditions, the school authorities have discontinued extra-curricular activities, especially sports, for the past several years. Earlier, Kabbadi, Kho-kho and volleyball matches were held regularly. "In the absence of a boundary wall, a huge crowd gathers to watch the match and pass objectionable comments, so the practice was discontinued," said a teacher.