Kupwara, March, 25 (KNO) : Painting a grim picture of the education sector, the educational institute in Dudwan village in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district lacks proper space, thus giving tough time to the students as well as the tutors here.
A school building 'Government middle school' located at Dudwan village is under construction for over Twelve years now, forcing nearly 140 students to study in a very congested space to it that lacks every facility including playground, causing great inconvenience to the students as well as teachers.
Construction work for the middle school, three-room building was started in the year 2007 with total estimated cost of Rs 4,50,000. However, days after withdrawing half of the sanctioned amount, the contractor left the work half way since then, sources said.
A teacher of the institute said that, “Numerous times, we have written to Education Department regarding the sufferings of students in absence of proper accommodation even we have notified the contractor on whose name the construction work was awarded but all went in vain, the contractor kept replying I don't have sufficient amount to complete the roof and other pending work".
Despite repeated attempts, asking the contractor to resume the construction work at the earnest, but he didn't started the work after which they took stern action against him and lodged an FIR against him for failing to complete the construction work awarded in his belt, the official said.
The officials also acknowledged that the institution is facing serious inconvenience in absence of full-fledged and proper accommodation for students.
“We are being forced to combine the students of fifth and first standard in a single room throughout the academic session. Our institution has no playground facility, which has made it tough for us to accommodate the full functioning of this government run institution,” they said.
Faisal Qureshi, a student of the institution told KNO that, “I am studying here for three years now but so far we are being taught in a single class room even after I have passed two standards, it always here feels like I'm still in that same standard I was enrolled some three years back.”
The incomplete under construction building has developed huge cracks, at points it has collapsed, wooden work done has turned to shabby, the building is not in a condition to be used for any purpose, locals told KNO.
Talking to KNO, Chief Education Officer, Shafi Nabi War said that, the old building was constructed in almost 1976, an amount of 2.80 Lakhs has been withdrawn so far but the rest of amount still lies within the possession of department for the construction of new building which pending for 12 years now.
“The rates have increased over the months and same building can't be constructed on that amount awarded for the building. We will again start the construction project again, while as he refuted the claims regarding the insufficient space for students, Shafi War said.(KNO)