With a leaking roof and wet walls, the building of Government High School, Valpoi is in dire need of attention from the government. The students, teachers and other staff have to work in fear due to the dilapidated condition of the building, which is older than others in the area. The problem is mainly due to the government’s negligence.
When it rains at night, water enters the building through the roof and accumulates in the classrooms. Every morning for the last month, the students have been clearing away the settled water. When it rains in the morning, the students have an even tougher time. It becomes very difficult for them to concentrate. The water trickling down the walls may well lead to an electrical disaster.
The cement floor of the Standard IX class is also sinking at one end. “It’s very dangerous to sit in the room due to this problem,” claimed a teacher.
The school has around 73 students (Std V-X), and their parents are annoyed at the situation. The submitted several memorandums for a new building, but the Education Department is turning a blind eye due to the relatively small number of students.
“The government is not serious about this issue. They have to resolve the problem as it is threat to the students’ lives; otherwise this school should be shut,” said a parent.
“Education facilities are important for the all-round development of children. Due to the building’s dilapidated condition, the students are facing educational losses.
The authorities should not ignore this serious issue as it is a question of education and safety,” said Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) Chairperson Sharafat Khan.
VMC Vice Chairman Dharmendra Salunke stated, “This school is an identity of the educational sector in Sattari. The building was constructed during the Portuguese rule, and the government was expected to renovate the same, but it failed to do so. I expect a new building to be constructed.”
