He commutes by boat to take classes in flood-affected village

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 22

Sarabjeet Singh, the only teacher at Government Primary School, Dhakka Basti, was commuting in a boat to teach students till Friday. Most of the time he would get accompanied by some persons, who distribute essential items at the village. While sometimes he used to commute alone in the boat.

However, due to the poor condition of the school building, he takes classes at a student’s house located nearby.

Three teachers at Government Primary School, Mandala Channa, also used to go to their school by a boat since a long time.

They said they had also been going to students’ houses by the boat to convince their parents to send them to the school.

Now, after braving the unbearable stink while coming to the school, they also face the challenge of cleaning the premises of the school. The boundary wall and the toilet at the Mandala Channa school have collapsed. Also, the teachers have noticed that the floor is caving in at some parts.

In view of the appalling condition of Government Primary School, Dhakka Basti, teacher Sarabjeet Singh is taking classes at the house of a student. Till a few days days ago, the school was inundated and it was not possible to ask students to study there, he said.

“I have seen snakes on its premises. I cannot take the risk of asking the students to come to the school,” he said

“That is why I have arranged classes at a student’s house.” he said, adding that of the 36 students, around 32 had started coming.

Sarabjeet said he was hopeful that by Monday, he would be able to shift the classes to the school

“Till now I was not teaching the students at the school due to its poor condition, but now I am thinking to shift the classes to the school itself,” he said, adding that he could not afford to make the students suffer due to which I was taking classes at one of the student’s residence.