BAHAWALNAGAR: A pool of stagnant water, students studying in the open in streets and minor students draining out hazardous water are some of the issues a village is faced with however authorities are indifferent to this abysmal situation.

The Government Girls Elementary School, Chaweka, was established in 1987 as a primary school and upgraded to middle school in 1989. Around 147 students are enrolled and nine teachers posted here. However, currently the school is a reflection of the poor education system.

Teachers are forced to conduct classes out in the open in streets outside the school gate as the building is inundated with rain and sewage water spreading a foul smell in the entire area. Both students and teachers are forced to continue studying amid hazardous conditions.

The school headmistress said: “Due to adverse conditions we are forced to conduct classes in the streets even during exams.”

She said she had informed local high-ups repeatedly to take notice of the situation, but to no avail. She demanded high-ups for an early solution to avert dropouts.

A teacher said they had to discharge their duties amid the foul smell of stagnant sewage.

A minor student said rain and sewage water had inundated the school and forced them to sit in the streets. She demanded the authorities drain out the water as soon as possible to save them from losing out on study time.

The gravity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that students are trying to drain out the water themselves due to the looming threat of outbreak of an epidemic.

Local authorities visited the school in September and drained out the water through Town Municipal Authority sucker tanks. But the situation could not be improved permanently due to the indifference and apathy of the authorities.

Executive District Officer (Education) Dr Javed Muzaffar Chishti said he was not aware of the issue but would try to resolve it at the earliest.

Published in Dawn March 24th, 2015

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