Children studying from grades one to eight at Sirad Bhumi Basic School in Chipan, Marma Rural Municipality-6, have been forced to study under a tarpaulin due to the lack of a school building. The four-room school building, constructed during the armed conflict period, has become dilapidated and started to collapse. Most of the school buildings are in a dilapidated condition. School principal Premsingh Dadal said the rods and cement of the four-room building had started falling into the classrooms, putting students at risk. He mentioned that they had started conducting classes under a tarpaulin out of concern that something might happen if the building collapsed during the monsoon.
According to principal Dadal, there are 8 students in grade 6 and 11 in grade 7, with a total of 101 students enrolled at the school. The physical infrastructure is in poor condition. He said that in the fiscal year 2020/2021, the rural municipality built a two-room building, and classes are now being held by placing tarpaulins over that same building. The two-room building constructed by the District Education Office before 2003 BS has also fallen into a dilapidated state and is at risk of collapsing. Principal Dadal said that they have been requesting the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government for a new building for the past two years, but there has been no response so far. Principal Dadal said that on one hand it is the hot season, and on the other the monsoon has begun. He mentioned that along with the four-room building, the two-room building has also deteriorated and could soon pose problems. Although the local level is aware of the school’s physical condition, a new building has not yet been constructed. Principal Dadal said that as it became unlikely to get a building constructed from anywhere, they have been conducting classes under tarpaulins to ensure that studies are not disrupted.
Ward Chairperson Santosh Singh Kottari of Marma Rural Municipality-6, stated that although the school building is dilapidated, he had not received any information about the need to conduct classes under tarpaulins. He said he became aware of the situation only after seeing pictures on social media. He added that a budget has been allocated in the upcoming fiscal year for constructing a two-room school building. Likewiase, Chairperson Jamansingh Dhami of the Rural Municipality stated that a budget of Rs 20,00,000 has been allocated for the upcoming fiscal year. However, he mentioned that the school has not informed him about students having to study under tarpaulins.
