SRINAGAR: In the harsh winter conditions, students enrolled in a Government Primary School in Bebrada area of Yaripora belt in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district are attending their classes under the open sky due to the absence of a proper school building.
According to official sources, the school has 27 students and two teachers. Established in 1984, it initially operated out of a rented mud building. However, the structure was deemed unsafe and dismantled by its owners.
For the past two years, the school has been functioning in the courtyard of a house, leaving the students without basic amenities such as classrooms or washrooms.
Two years ago, the residents filed a grievance with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, prompting the Tehsildar to identify land for a new building. While efforts were made to address the issue, resistance from some locals stalled progress, and the grievance was closed without resolution.
Aysha Jan, a student said, “We have been studying under the open sky for years. The government should build a proper school for us. We don’t even have toilet facilities. We hope we finally get a building with necessary facilities soon.”
Parents have also voiced concerns about the lack of infrastructure. “Amid freezing temperatures, our children are studying outdoors. They don’t even have washrooms. This neglect puts their future at risk,” said Sayar Ahmad, a local parent.
Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Zonal Educational Officer (ZEO) Yaripora said that they have already raised the issue with higher authorities. He stated that a patch of land has been identified but is insufficient for constructing the school building.
“The local residents are not cooperating and need to support the department,” Bhat said. “We also considered merging the school with another, but the distance to the nearest school is too far. Moreover, it is a primary school, and the students are very young,” he added, expressing hope that the issue would be resolved soon. (KNO)
