SRINAGAR: Students lacking an address after the life resumed after three tense of tense hiatus has not everything to do with the schools that went up in smoke – three in two days. But there is a new addition, schools which are intact but the students and teachers could not get in.
A huge drama unfolded in Gagribal on Wednesday when the students reached their school, the Government Middle School, run in a single level British style bungalow. But they were not permitted in by the CRPF.
“Our school was occupied by the CRPF on April 3, and since then we are on the road,” headmaster of the school said. “We thought that since the elections in Srinagar were over and they might have vacated the premises but that is not the case.” He said the paramilitary did not permit them in.
Students, teachers and their leader were outside the premises for almost an hour struggling to get in but were not permitted. “Our officials had told us that the CRPF will come on April 8 and then leave a day later but they came in advance and are not leaving now,” one of the teachers said.
All the 11 rooms in the school are under the occupation of the CRPF. The premise is an Evacuees Property and has been one of the oldest schools in Srinagar.
“Parents of our students have been calling us almost daily asking us to reopen the school because their wards are losing academic time,” the headmaster said. “But we are helpless.”
The headmaster said he and his staff has put in massive efforts to resurrect the school but now the entire effort is getting waste. “When we joined, there were only 30 students,” the headmaster said. “Now we have more than 100. But tragically we lack space to teach.”
The school staff was waiting outside the “school” for almost an hour and then they dispersed. They possibly went to report to their seniors.
(Pictures used in this news item were clicked by Bilal Bahadur)
