Maths not a problem, crossing highway hard to handle for Rajpura school-goers

Rajpura, July 15

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For students of Government High School, Kheri Gandhean, in Rajpura tehsil, Patiala, the real challenge isn’t mathematics or English. It’s the perilous daily journey across the busy four-lane Patiala-Rajpura highway (NH-64) that stands between them and their education.

This is happening even when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state is claiming the transformation of government schools, especially in the villages.

Every day, 200 students from classes VI to X negotiate heavy traffic and speeding vehicles to reach school. The return journey is equally treacherous with students repeating this dangerous crossing in the afternoon.

“Sada bapu kehra DC lagya. My father is not Deputy Commissioner. We are destined to go to school each day by putting our life at risk,” lamented an eighth-grader, relieved to have survived another day.

Tarsem Singh, a local resident, accompanies his children and helps others cross the road safely.

“Every day, I leave the house praying that the children should reach home safely. This school caters to children of nearly 10 villages located in the surrounding area. I have started to believe that the authorities are waiting for a tragedy to occur before taking action,” he said.

Despite repeated pleas, highway authorities have not installed signboards, speed-breakers or pedestrian overpasses to ensure students’ safety.

“No signboard has been installed on either side of the highway to suggest that there is a school ahead. Further, no speed-breakers, humps, cushions or tables have been built to slow down the speed of the motorists in front of the school,” Singh added.

Naib Singh, principal of Kheri Gandhean High School, expressed his concern, saying that numerous letters have been sent to the authorities demanding safety measures for students.

“We need a pedestrian overpass and a secure passage so that students can come to school and return home without fear,” he emphasised.

The residents of Khanpur village also gathered outside the school to protest against the situation. Harnek Singh, a resident, stated, “Even though they are children of the poor, it does not mean that their life does not matter. Does the government feel that only the children of the rich have a right to quality education and the children of the poor have to put their life at risk for education?”

On the other hand, the District Education Officer (Secondary) Sanjiv Kumar said, “No complaint with regard to accident risk to students was previously made to us. Since you have brought the matter to our notice, we will look into it.”