Fazilka govt school runs without roof, kids study in open

Fazilka: Exposing the state govt's tall claims of an "education revolution", a govt primary school in Fazilka district has been functioning without a roof for a long time, forcing students to study in the open under four walls and the sky.After last year's tragic incident in Rajasthan—where schoolchildren died when a roof collapsed—concerns have been raised nationwide about the structural safety of school buildings. The situation at this Fazilka school highlights those fears. Several rooms are dilapidated, some are completely unusable, and children can be seen studying outdoors due to the unsafe structure. The school has regular teachers, two casual workers, two anganwadi workers and three midday meal staff, all functioning from the same compromised premises. For young children, sitting in such conditions for long hours is difficult and is affecting both their health and learning.Established in 1972, the Government Primary School in Basti Hazur Singh caters to around 120 students up to Class V. Four to five of its classrooms are built below ground level, causing waterlogging in the verandah whenever it rains. School authorities say they have repeatedly informed officials, but no action has been taken so far.District education officer Satish Kumar said the matter had not come to his notice and assured that he would seek details from the department.Suresh Thakral, JE in the education department, confirmed that a five-member committee—comprising the DEO (Primary), deputy DEO, JE, SDO and a PWD JE—had inspected the building, declared it unsafe, and issued a certificate that was forwarded to the department. He said renovation would begin once the required grant is sanctioned.Education minister Harjot Singh Bains said he had recently issued show-cause notices to several officials and teachers over poor school upkeep, but added that issues like roofless buildings fall under PWD and require long-term capital investment. He said such primary schools were being prioritised for upgrades under a new initiative. Photo of roofless primary school in Basti Hazur Singh in Fazilka