LAND FOR LANDLESS SCHOOL IN BIHAR

LAND FOR LANDLESS SCHOOL IN BIHAR

27-AUG-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The administration in Bhojpur, Bihar, has taken action following a report by ETV Bharat. We had highlighted the plight of the New Primary School in Kutubpur Dera (Western Babura Panchayat, Barhara Block), which had been operating out of a community hall for 22 years. In response to this report, the District Education Officer (DEO) has written to the Director of the Education Department.

According to the letter written by DEO Manvendra Kumar Rai, the school had been landless for a long time, preventing the construction of its own building. Requests had been made to the Circle Officer (CO) multiple times since 2025 to identify suitable land.

The DEO stated that, fortunately, a donor has now registered a total of 16 decimals of land in the school's name—a development the school principal has communicated to the department. With the land now secured, preparations to construct a new school building have gained momentum.

The District Education Office has written to the Building Construction Department (BSEIDC) in Patna, requesting the immediate construction of the school building. This school is listed fourth on the official roster of landless schools in Bhojpur district that have now acquired land.

It is worth noting that on August 25, we reported that the New Primary School in Western Babura Panchayat (Barhara Block)—established in October 2004—was still functioning within a community hall, with 75 students forced to study in a single room.

School teacher Kumar Mohit had explained that teaching 75 children across five different grade levels in one room was extremely challenging. Teaching activities were being managed somehow despite limited resources. Demands for the construction of a school building had been raised with the concerned officials several times, but no response had been received until now.

"Teaching activities are being managed somehow despite limited resources." "Demands regarding the construction of a school building have been raised with the concerned officials several times, but there has been no response so far." – Kumar Mohit, Teacher

According to the information received, classes were initially held in a community center. Later, an Anganwadi center also began operating in the same building. Over time, the building fell into a dilapidated state. Consequently, in April 2026, the school was relocated to another community center. However, only a single room was made available to the school at the new location.

The children's education was being adversely affected because classes for all five grades—from first to fifth—were being conducted in that single room. Due to the lack of space, some children got benches, while others had to sit on the floor to study. Teachers also faced difficulties in teaching students from different grades simultaneously.

District Education Officer Manvendra Kumar Rai had explained at the time that the building could not be constructed earlier because the school did not own any land, but land had now become available. He stated that while the process might take some time, efforts would be made to ensure the school building was constructed as soon as possible.