Lack of Infrastructure in Sikandarpur and Kariyarhamanpur Primary Schools Leaves Students’ Future in Jeopardy
Bhagalpur: Despite grand claims of strengthening the education system in Bihar, the reality on the ground remains deeply concerning. A recent case has emerged from Bhagalpur district, where primary schools in Sikandarpur and Kariyarhamanpur are facing a severe shortage of infrastructure, which is severely hampering the education of young children. These schools lack both adequate buildings and proper seating arrangements, forcing students from multiple grade levels to huddle together in a single room to study.
Dilapidated Buildings and the Lack of Shelter
The condition of the Sikandarpur and Urdu Primary School, Kariyarhamanpur, paints a bleak picture of the state of education. Niranjan Yadav, the Head Teacher of the Kariyarhamanpur school, stated that their institution has been operating out of a dilapidated building since 2019. The situation is so dire that the students are left without even a safe roof over their heads. While the department has been informed in writing about the miserable state of the building, no concrete initiatives have been taken to date.
Multiple Grades Confined to a Single Room
Due to the acute shortage of space, it has become a necessity for teachers and students in these schools to conduct multiple classes in a single room. When children from different grades sit together in one space, it has a direct negative impact on the quality of instruction. Teachers struggle to teach effectively, and students find it impossible to focus. This problem is not confined to these two schools alone; children in many other primary schools across Bihar are forced to study under similar circumstances.
A Deficit of Basic Amenities
The problems plaguing government schools in Bihar are not limited to a shortage of buildings. Hundreds of schools across the state lack basic amenities such as clean drinking water, functional toilets, playgrounds, and electricity. In particular, the unavailability of toilets for girls is compromising their safety and diminishing their interest in education. Often, because of poor infrastructure, parents are hesitant to send their children to school, which has contributed to an increase in dropout rates.
Administrative Apathy and the Question of Budget
The Bihar government increases the education budget significantly every year; despite this, the deplorable state of primary schools in rural areas shows no signs of improvement. Due to the apathy and neglect of administrative officials, the construction or repair work of schools is rarely completed on time. Many newly established schools still do not have land of their own and are operating out of temporary shacks.
Educationists believe that the education system in Bihar will only improve when schools are empowered with basic infrastructure:
Urgent Repairs: Dilapidated schools must be identified immediately, and the process of reconstruction should be expedited.
Monitoring Mechanism: The Education Department must conduct regular monitoring of construction work and physical facilities in schools.
Teacher-Student Ratio: The appointment of teachers must be ensured according to standards so that learning is not compromised.
The plight of schools like those in Sikandarpur and Kariyarhamanpur serves as a mirror for the government and the Education Department. If attention is not paid to the construction of school buildings in time, the future of the coming generation will remain dark. It remains to be seen whether the administration will take any concrete action or if these children will be forced to study under these challenging conditions for a long time to come.
