No classes, no mid-day meals at Pattamundai School

Kendrapara: Broken doors, damaged walls, leaking roofs and waterlogged classrooms, the Kakharuni Seva Ashram Vidyalaya at Pattamundai block in Kendrapara speaks volumes about the quality of education system in the State.

"Every year water drips through the roof during rains. The asbestos is broken and it is difficult to study here," a student Rakesh Mallick said

Headmaster-in-charge of the school, Chittaranjan Samal, said, "I come to the school everyday and stay here from 10 am to 4 pm. Students are not able to sit inside and their study is getting hampered. We are not even able to provide them mid-day meals."

The Kakharuni Seva Ashram Vidyalaya is not an isolated case. The students of Khadia Seva Ashram in the same block too are facing the same fate.

"There are only two classrooms in our school and  4 teachers for 8 classes," a student Shreya Mallick said.

Headmistress-in-charge of Khadia Seva Ashram, Ambika Nayak, said, "We have  a total of 105 students for 8 classes and accommodating all of them is difficult. Even teaching them together is a huge problem."

On the other hand, Pattamundai Block BDO Pabitra Mohan Kanungo said that efforts are being made to improve the condition of the school.

"We had planned to shift the school (Kakharuni Seva Ashram) to a temporary house but due to some reason the construction work could not be completed. We are trying our best to complete the work in 15 days," Kanungo said.

"Meanwhile, we will be taking the children to the nearest primary school where they can be taught," the BDO added.