NO DEDICATED BUILDING FOR 22 YEARS

NO DEDICATED BUILDING FOR 22 YEARS

26-AUG-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------------The Bihar state government has announced several significant changes aimed at improving the education system and modernizing it. These initiatives include live classes, AI-based learning, and free coaching for competitive exams. However, in the Bhojpur district, there is a school where students from classes 1 to 5 are compelled to study in a single room within a community center.

The situation at 'New Primary School, Kutubpur Dera'—located in the Western Babura Panchayat of the district's Barhara block—reflects this reality. Established in October 2004, the school still operates out of a community center, with its 75 students forced to study in just one room.

New Primary School, Kutubpur Dera, certainly exposes the ground reality of the government education system. Even nearly 22 years after its inception, the school has not secured a building of its own. Since its establishment, it has operated variously across different community centers.

The level of apathy is such that there is only one room available for students across five grade levels. Furthermore, due to a lack of adequate benches and desks, some children sit on benches while others are forced to sit on the floor. This situation makes the reality behind the state's claims regarding the public education system all too apparent.

In fact, reports indicate that classes have been held in a community center since the very beginning. 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, even at this new location, only a single room was made available.

Conducting classes for grades 1 through 5 in one room is adversely affecting the students' education. Due to the limited space, some children get benches, while others are compelled to sit on the floor to study. Teachers face a significant challenge in simultaneously teaching children from different grade levels.

Kumar Mohit, a teacher at the school, stated that teaching 75 students from five different grades in a single room is highly challenging. Teaching activities are being managed somehow despite limited resources. Requests for the construction of a school building have been submitted to the concerned officials multiple times, yet there has been no response so far.

"Teaching 75 students from five different grades in a single room is highly challenging. Teaching activities are being managed somehow despite limited resources. Requests for the construction of a school building have been submitted to the concerned officials multiple times, yet there has been no response so far." – Kumar Mohit, Teacher

Pintu, a local resident, remarked that the school is being shuffled from one community center to another, much like a football. While government claims and statistics exist, the ground reality is that children are still forced to study in a single room. He demanded the immediate construction of a permanent building for the school.

"The school is being shuffled from one community center to another, much like a football. While government claims and statistics exist, the ground reality is that children are still forced to study in a single room." – Pintu Singh, Local Resident

Ward member Tuntun Kumar stated that the school had to be shifted to a different building because the old community center had become dilapidated. The fact that the school still lacks its own building after nearly 22 years represents a major failure on the part of the Education Department. A permanent building should be constructed soon, keeping the children's future in mind.

"The fact that the school still lacks its own building after nearly 22 years represents a major failure on the part of the Education Department. A permanent building should be constructed soon, keeping the children's future in mind." – Tuntun Kumar, Ward Member

District Education Officer Manvendra Kumar Rai explained that the building could not be constructed earlier because the school lacked its own land, but land has now become available. The school will soon shift from the community center to its own building. He noted that while the process might take some time, efforts will be made to ensure the school building is constructed as quickly as possible. "Construction of the building could not take place earlier because the school did not have its own land, but the land is now available. The school will soon shift from the community center to its own building. Efforts will be made to complete the construction of the school building as soon as possible." – Manvendra Kumar Rai, District Education Officer