Samvad Sutra, Jadiya (Supaul). Banswadi South, a middle school located in Manganj Purba Panchayat under Jadiya police station area of Triveniganj block, still stores the horrific memories of the terrible flood of 2008. Even after almost 18 years, this school not only remains a witness to the horrors of flood, but also remains a big challenge for the education system due to lack of basic facilities.
Established in the year 1985-86, a total of 312 children from classes one to eight are currently enrolled in this school. To handle the education system of children, three female and three male teachers are posted in the school. Despite this, due to serious shortage of buildings, teachers have to face huge difficulties in conducting studies.
Only three rooms available in the school
The most surprising thing is that even today this school is practically without a building. After the flood of 2008, only three rooms are available in the building built by Plan India for the school. The head teacher of the school, Pawan Kumar Das, says that out of these three rooms, one room is used for office, while in the remaining two rooms, all the children from class one to eight are imparted education in some way.
Teaching children from multiple classes sitting in the same room is not only affecting the education of the children, but it has also become a big challenge for the teachers. The head teacher said that before the flood, two separate buildings of one room each were provided to the school by the Bihar government, but in the devastating flood of 2008, one building was completely demolished. Whereas the other one was no longer fit for use.
The hole has not been filled till date
Not only this, the flood water also created two huge pits in the school premises, which have not been filled till date. The situation is such that almost half of the school campus has been converted into a school building, while the other half is in the grip of these dangerous potholes. The condition of the school becomes even more worrying because it is situated just on the western side of Jadia-Balua main road.
There is no boundary or security cordon around the school. In such a situation, teachers are always apprehensive about the safety of children. There is a possibility of falling into potholes or having an accident on the road. According to teachers, a small mistake can lead to a major accident.
limited to paper inspection
Villagers say that no one has paid serious attention to this problem for years. They allege that the officials of the education department are limited to paper inspection only.
The villagers have demanded that the departmental officers themselves should inspect the site and basic facilities like adequate rooms, safe boundaries, filling of pits and construction of permanent buildings should be provided to the school as soon as possible.
The villagers clearly say that if concrete steps are not taken in time, it will have a direct impact on both the education and safety of the children. This school, which is facing the tragedy of flood, still remains a symbol of government indifference and is once again waiting for the intervention of the government and administration.