Parched throats in govt school for over a year

Rein Bazar: Due to lack of minimal infrastructure with no toilets and drinking water, a State-run school located in Rein Bazar resembles a school of bygone era. Citing pending bills, the HMWSSB officials blocked drinking water pipeline forcing, teachers to purchase water from the market.

The Rein Bazar Government School, which runs both primary and higher sections in different shifts, has more than 600 students, but it lacks basic amenities like drinking water. According to the school staff, there are around 300 students in each shift, but for the past one year there has been no provision of drinking water.

When teachers complained about this, the HMWSSB officials pointed out that the water line was disconnected owing to pending of bills amounting to Rs 40,000 and also claimed that it was an 'illegal connection'. "The school is running for around 12 years in this building, but this was like a shocker.

The waterline has been cut-off citing that no bill has been paid, even though no such bill is received by the school management from the beginning," said Shehriyaar, a caretaker working since the functioning of the school began.

He said that the students were having tough time and also for teachers who are trying their best to make arrangements for the drinking water each day. "Headmaster and teachers are purchasing the water cans from nearby water plants, which is not enough to cater the needs," he added.

Borewell dug up for other uses this year

The In-charge of higher section said on condition of anonymity that since the water connection was disconnected, potable water was being procured. But for other purposes the management had to ponder over. "The school management decided to dig a borewell and along with the support of local leaders and by the contribution of staff it materialised in February," she said.

Apart from lack of water facility in school, the school is running with minimal infrastructure. When other schools are running in digital classrooms, this school runs with no proper benches, lights and fans and even no table for teachers in classrooms. Despite all this, government school maintains good strength and students remain clogged in Office room and staffroom, when classrooms fail to accommodate.

Lack of toilets another major concern

For 300 students in each shift there are only 6 toilets in which 3 are for girls and 1 is of boys, as remaining are closed due to bad condition and interestingly there are no toilets for school staff.

The mid-day meals is being served in an unhygienic condition, as the students can be seen having their lunch in the open space, near the entrance of the school by spreading out a mat, because of lack of space inside the school. According to staff, this school runs both English and Urdu medium and there are even no sufficient teachers for subjects.

Shehriyaar also said that the school doesn't have any security. Youngsters from outside jump over the walls for picking up cricket balls and some of them can seen playing after the school closes for the day. "There is no security and doors of toilets. Earlier classrooms were damaged," he added.