Paradip school runs from a single room without walls

KENDRAPADA: The government-run Gholapada primary school at Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district resembles a cowshed. All 75 students, including 30 girls, from Class I to V are packed into a thatched room where simultaneous classes are taken.
The room does not have a proper wall and neither is there any furniture. Students bear the brunt of nature throughout the year."Classes are often called off during the rains as the roof leaks and there are no walls to protect the children," said a villager.
Students said they fail to concentrate on their studies due to overcrowding and the resulting noise. The six-year-old school is being run by only two teachers. "Safe drinking water and proper sanitation are pipedreams for the school, let alone toilet for children," said Banamali Mandal, father of a student. Parents' repeated reminders to authorities about the plight of students have fallen on deaf ears.
Collector (Jagatsinghpur) S K Mallick blamed the officials of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) for the plight of children. Primary schools at Noliasahi, Bangalipada, Loknath Colony, Gholapada , Bauriapalanda, Balijhari and Gopalajew come under PPT's jurisdiction, he said.
The district administration moved PPT a number of times to provide land to build a school at Gholapada, but in vain. The administration received Rs 45 lakh two years back to construct school buildings. But due to non-availability of land, the district administration was forced to return the unspent grant to the government last year, Mallick said. "I will discuss with higher authorities to sort out the matter," added the collector.
Deputy conservator of PPT Goura Prasad Biswal said they are hamstrung as most land of the trust are entangled in litigations.