TV
In a baffling example of resource misallocation within Odisha’s education system, a government high school in Puri district is reportedly functioning with just one student and five teachers.
The school in question is the Dandamukundapur Government High School in Pipili block, located merely 20 kilometres from the state capital of Bhubaneswar. The stark situation has now triggered questions about educational governance, administrative efficiency, and alleged policy oversight.
Notably, this instance has come to light not long after an OTV report highlighted how the Rengali Project College in Angul was functioning without any faculty, the exact opposite of this situation.
A School Running with Empty Classrooms
Sources reported that most classrooms at this school remain locked, with currently, only Classes 9 and 10 functioning on its premises.
While the school was once bustling with students, with the completion of board exams, all Class 10 students graduated, leaving just one student promoted from Class 9 to Class 10 this academic year, added reports.
To make matters worse, the teachers maintained that he remains irregular in attendance and skips school when there are no classes. As such, the teachers, who still report to duty out of professional obligation, simply mark attendance and return home.
On days the student does attend, he is taught by a team of five teachers, all assigned full-time to this nearly empty school.
“I was the lone student in Class 9, and even after promotion, the situation remains the same. Being alone, I do not enjoy attending classes,” said Satybrata Behera, the lone student of Dandamukundapur Government High School.
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Midday Meals Suspended, Efforts to Attract Students Fail
Due to the absence of a functional student base, the midday meal program at the school has also come to a standstill.
Notably, teachers stated that repeated attempts to boost student enrollment have failed as another larger school in the same panchayat is attracting most students, leaving this once-thriving institution on the verge of collapse.
A Declining Institution With Financial Puzzles
Established in 1976, the Dandamukundapur Government High School is approaching its 50th anniversary. However, over the past decade, a steady decline in enrollment has turned it into a ghost school.
Local intellectuals allege that despite having just one student, the government spends over Rs 4 lakh per month to run the institution, an amount meant to serve many more.
“We are extremely saddened by the state of affairs. Local panchayat, sarpanch, every one has appealed and tried to help revive the school but to no avail,” said headmistress Banita Das.
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Official Reactions and Promised Action
When asked about the situation, Puri District Education Officer (DEO) Deepak Parihi confirmed that the BEO has been asked for an explanation.
“Immediate action will be taken. The lone student will be transferred to a nearby, better-functioning school, and the five teachers will be reassigned according to their subject specialisations,” he added.
The Dandamukundapur case is not just an anomaly but is a reflection of a larger systemic issue. As Odisha continues to focus on improving literacy and learning outcomes, the government must address both under-resourced and overstaffed schools with equal urgency.
(Reported by Madhusudan Mishra from Puri and Dwitikrishna Pattnayak from Pipili)
