Braving cold, students attend classes in open

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 15

Braving the cold, students of Government Primary School, Janta Nagar, have been attending classes in the open due to a paucity of rooms. Notably, three rooms of the school, which were declared unsafe, have been demolished recently with no further provision for reconstruction.

With the students attending classes in the open, it has become really difficult for them to sit on the ground in cold weather conditions.

There are only four rooms to accommodate more than 500 students from 14 sections of primary and pre-primary wings. Despite taking classes in the principal’s office and the verandah, scores of students have been coerced to attend classes in the open amid the biting cold.

Ramandeep Singh (name changed), a student, said, “Attending classes in the open has become difficult for me and my classmates. Many of us catch cold and then we have to take leaves. It had become unmanageable for me to attend classes outside in cold weather conditions so my parents asked me to take leave and study at home for a few days.”

“My final exams are approaching nearer. Now, I cannot afford to compromise on my studies. It is crucial time and during revision classes, many complex concepts are getting clear to me. But, the government must do something because if there is no classroom, what is the use of a school? It is most basic thing that the government must ensure so that students like us do not have to attend classes in the open amid cold weather conditions,” he added.

The shortage of classrooms is a common phenomenon in various schools across the district and the issue has been highlighted in these columns on a number of times. Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has issued grants for renovation and construction of more rooms in government schools.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Hardeep Singh, District Education Officer (Elementary), said, “Attending classes in the open amid cold weather conditions is certainly a grave concern. We will make efforts to address the issue. We will meet the Finance Minister and bring the matter to his notice. We will also approach Municipal Corporation officials to provide a vacant building near the school so that students can be accommodated there.”

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