2 Shahkot schools declared unsafe, students made to sit in the open

Two government primary schools in Lohian block, Shahkot, have been declared unsafe. The buildings of Government Primary School, Jania Chahal, and Government Primary School, Chak Wadala, have been deemed unfit for use, forcing students and teachers to function from temporary locations.

With the Chak Wadala school building abandoned, students have been shifted to a nearby house owned by an NRI, where classes are now being conducted. Meanwhile, the situation is more difficult for children at Government Primary School, Jania Chahal, where students are compelled to attend classes in the open within the school premises due to the lack of an alternative building.

With the winter approaching, it will be increasingly difficult for students to sit outside, especially on days without sunlight. The school authorities are reportedly trying to arrange space in a nearby religious place or a private residence to ensure classes can continue without exposing children to harsh weather.

Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO), Lohian, said both schools will receive grants at the earliest and efforts are underway to address the infrastructure crisis.

The issue is not limited to these two schools. At Government Primary School, Sidhupur, the building has remained unsafe for two years after the verandah roof collapsed during severe floods. Since then, both primary and pre-primary students have been studying together in a single hall of the local panchayat ghar. Despite repeated appeals, the school has yet to receive any grant for reconstruction.

Teachers say the overcrowded single-room set-up housing students from classes 1 to 5 along with anganwadi children makes effective teaching and learning extremely challenging. The original school building had developed cracks after the floods and the collapse of the verandah roof further deteriorated its condition, rendering it unusable.

Parents and teachers across the block are urging the authorities to expedite repair work and provide safe, adequate learning spaces to ensure that children’s education is not compromised.