Shift school out of Nabha jail: Teachers

Strap: Say worried about kids who are ‘exposed to criminals daily’

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Students not wards of staff

* Teachers said the school was initially started to teach wards of jail officials/staff. However, none of the jail officials’ wards are currently enrolled in the school

* Suman, head teacher, said: “We have requested the authorities to either improve the current infrastructure or provide a building outside the jail premises to ensure children’s safety.”

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 11

Over 300 students of Government Primary School are regularly “exposed to dreaded criminals”. Reason: The classes are held on the premises of the Nabha jail.

Children usually encounter the criminals when they are being ferried in police vans for court hearings. “Exposure to violent people such as these, even as a bystander can have far-reaching negative impact on children,” said an expert.

A teacher on the condition of anonymity said: “We were lucky that the infamous Nabha jailbreak took place on Sunday in 2016 when we were not on the premises. To ensure safety of children, the government should immediately shift us out of here.”

Adding to their woes, the school is being run in four makeshift classrooms of tin sheds, which leak during rains.

District Education Officer Harinder Kaur said: “Though the school is on the jail premises, it is far from where inmates are lodged. However, I will seek a report from the school staff on possible solutions to end this problem.”

Education Minister Pargat Singh could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.