Squeezed! 400 Saketri students make do with rickety structure

Ishrat S Banwait

tribune news service

Panchkula, February 24

Crumbling walls and space shortage are the hallmark of many Panchkula schools and Government Primary School in Saketri is no exception. Moreover, there is no proper playground for 400 students as the whole school has a concrete floor and classes are held in the open due to a lack of rooms.

Even inside some classrooms, children sit on the floor due to the non-availability of benches. Ask the teachers and they say, “If we put benches in these small rooms, there will be no space for children to sit.” The rooms are dimly lit with just one yellow filament bulb for the whole class.

The rickety structure of the school is another danger for the students. The toilets are in poor shape with rusted iron doors. The door of the boy’s toilet was found damaged. The drinking water facility lacks a water purifier. The area around it is slippery, showing the lack of maintenance and regular sweeping.

 Just like its neighbouring senior secondary school, students are taken to a nearby public park fro sports activities. The risk here is much higher as young children can cross a narrow and busy road. The mid-day meal kitchen of the school is small and dingy.