From sheds to classrooms: Panipat’s govt schools await change

As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day on Friday, the spirit of progress is shadowed by a glaring reality in Panipat. The Government Middle School (GMS) in the city has been operating without its own building for the past 69 years, forcing generations of children to study under a makeshift shed since 1956. At present, 185 students, from Class I to Class VIII, continue to brave scorching summers, heavy monsoons and biting winters, with little more than floor mats to sit on.

The district of Panipat has 416 schools, of which 243 are government primary schools, 49 are government middle schools, 26 are government high schools and 98 are government senior secondary schools, including 13 exclusively for girls. These institutions are spread across different blocks — Bapoli, Israna, Panipat city block, the Panipat block and Samalkha — yet not all of them function with adequate infrastructure. The GMS in the old sugar mill area is not an isolated case; nine government schools in the district do not have buildings of their own, conducting classes in borrowed or makeshift spaces, some in temples, mosques, other schools’ premises or old industrial structures.

The history of GMS Sugar Mill dates back to 1956, when the Panipat Cooperative Sugar Mill was established on Panipat-Gohana Road, along with a residential colony for its employees. That same year, the government set up a primary school in one of the colony’s residential buildings for the children of mill employees. Over time, children from neighbouring colonies also began attending the school, which was upgraded to a middle school in 1966. With each passing year, the student numbers grew, but the school still has no dedicated building.

Three years ago, the sugar mill shifted its operations from Gohana Road to Dahar village. The school, however, continues to function from the old premises and now operates in two shifts due to a lack of space. In the mornings, around 135 students from Classes VI to VIII attend, while in the evening shift, approximately 53 younger children from Classes I to V arrive for lessons. The building in which the school operates has just three rooms. One serves as the kitchen for preparing the midday meal, another as a store and the third as the school office. There is not a single dedicated classroom.

Manjeet, the Head of GMS, explained that students sit under a long shed for their classes throughout the year. Only during heavy rains are they moved to a large hall in the premises. He said all relevant officials, including the District Education Officer (DEO) and the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO), are aware of the situation and that requests for the construction of classrooms have been sent repeatedly, but without any resolution.

The issue extends beyond a single institution. Several government primary schools are operating from makeshift locations due to various challenges. For instance, Ramesh Nagar Government Primary School has been relocated to Wadhawa Ram Colony primary school due to a court case that has stalled construction. Other schools, such as those in Ward 8 and Rajputana, are functioning from the Lal Masjid, while Ansar primary school shares premises with HUDA primary school. Insar Ekta Vihar primary school is temporarily housed inside a temple. Additionally, Kasturba A primary school operates from the Government Girls Senior Secondary School building in Model Town. Meanwhile, Rajputana Ram Nagar primary school is waiting for its under-construction building to be completed

Beyond these, the district education department has identified 46 government schools, from primary to senior secondary level, that require urgent repairs or upgrades to infrastructure. This includes classrooms, libraries, laboratories, toilets, offices and boundary walls. The total estimated cost of these works is Rs 1,499.93 lakh. In Samalkha block alone, 21 schools have been flagged for construction and repair needs, while Madlauda block has eight such schools. In Israna, three schools require attention, Bapoli has five and the Panipat block has eight schools on the list. The proposed works range from building new classrooms and repairing toilets to setting up science labs and creating proper boundary walls.

Subhash Chander Bhardwaj, the DEEO, acknowledged that some schools are indeed functioning without buildings, citing technical reasons as the main cause. A key difficulty, he explained, is that the department does not own the land and transferring ownership within municipal areas is a complex process. He said proposals for almost all affected schools have already been sent to the headquarters and are under consideration. He also mentioned that a special survey on basic amenities in schools would be carried out soon.

Rakesh Boora, the DEO of Panipat, maintained that almost all schools are in good condition and that regular surveys are conducted to assess the state of their infrastructure. According to him, buildings are partially condemned when they are found unsafe and repairs and maintenance are an ongoing process. Detailed lists of buildings needing attention, including classrooms, offices, boundary walls and other facilities, are prepared periodically and sent to the headquarters. Once a budget is allocated, tenders are issued for the necessary construction.

Yet, despite these assurances, the reality on the ground remains unchanged for the children of GMS Sugar Mill. For them, India’s 79 years of Independence have not brought the simple dignity of a proper classroom. Their school life continues under a tin shed, their books spread on tat pattis, their lessons interrupted by weather, noise and space constraints.

The irony is difficult to miss. In a nation that has invested heavily in modern infrastructure, technological advances and educational reforms, here in Panipat — a city known globally for its textile industry — young students are still denied the most basic of educational facilities. It is not just about missing walls and roofs; it is about the unfulfilled promise of equal opportunity.

Generations of children have walked through this shed-turned-school, each hoping that the next Independence Day would bring them the gift of a real classroom. But as the tricolour flutters proudly on Friday, they will once again gather under the same shed, their freedom from colonial rule marked not by progress, but by a reminder of how far the road still is to freedom from neglect.