Keran students endure damp, unsafe conditions

Kupwara, May 26: In a glaring example of the infrastructural crisis affecting education in remote areas of Kupwara, Government SSA Primary School Daddar Kundian in the Keran sector continues to function from a fragile private wooden structure, one portion of which is allegedly used to shelter cattle.
Established under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a flagship programme aimed at universalising elementary education, the school operates from a makeshift shack divided into two sections — one serving as a classroom for children and the other functioning as a stable for livestock.

The arrangement has triggered serious concerns among residents and parents over student safety, hygiene and what they describe as a blatant disregard for minimum educational standards in the frontier village.
Locals alleged that children are forced to study in damp, poorly ventilated conditions, while animal waste and stagnant water remain scattered around the premises, creating an unhygienic atmosphere.
Residents said repeated pleas to the authorities over the years for a permanent school building have failed to yield results.

“We are living in the 21st century, but our children are still receiving education in a cowshed-like structure. This is not education, it is pure neglect on the part of authorities over the years,” a resident said.

According to villagers, the condition of the school deteriorates further during rainfall, when water leaks through the roof and muddy surroundings make access to classrooms difficult.
“The government talks about modern education and smart classrooms, but our children do not even have a safe room to sit in. During the rains, the condition becomes miserable,” another resident said.

Parents of students studying at Government SSA Primary School Daddar Kundian expressed anguish, saying they fear for the health and future of their children, as prolonged exposure to unhygienic surroundings may leave them vulnerable to illness.

“Our children have been studying here for several years alongside cattle while the concerned department watched the suffering of students like mute spectators,” a parent alleged.
Locals have sought immediate intervention from Education Minister Sakina Itoo and urged authorities to take urgent notice of the issue and ensure the construction of a permanent school building at the earliest.

When contacted, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kupwara, Manzoor Ahmad, said the issue would be addressed after Eid.
Asked why the department had failed to provide a permanent structure despite years of complaints, Ahmad said he had only recently assumed charge and was not in a position to comment on past inaction.