No Roof, No Blackboard, No Classroom For 55 Children With 1 Teacher
Parents and students are unhappy over the absence of basic infrastructure
Visakhapatnam: No classroom, no blackboard, no chairs or tables, more than 55 children in Gondivalasa village of Gasaba panchayat in Dumbriguda mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju district are being forced to study under trees or in the verandas of homes. A single government-appointed teacher is handling Classes 1 to 6, with the village still lacking a school building and basic infrastructure.
Parents and students are unhappy over the absence of basic infrastructure. Currently, classes stop whenever there is rain. When studying in verandas of households, conversations within the house are disturbing. “We lose concentration because of the noise,” a student remarked.
Teacher C. Krishna Rao acknowledged the serious difficulties he faces. According to him, a school building had been sanctioned for the village under the YSRC government’s Nadu-Nedu scheme due to efforts by his predecessor. But funds had not been released.
“I myself have complained several times. The assistant tribal officer visited the village to assess the situation. The building is yet to be built,” Krishna Rao said.
Villager V. Venkat says, “Our children are forced to study in the open. Authorities must act and provide proper facilities. After frequent complaints by my children, I have been forced to send them to a private school in the neighbouring village. But the fee is too high. I don’t think I can afford it for long.”
Venkat’s statement reflects the financial strain many families endure when seeking alternatives outside their village.
Further, parents allege that the teacher does not take classes regularly, compounding the challenges
Lack of facilities has led to a cycle of neglect: students are denied quality education, parents struggle with unaffordable private school fees, and the appointed teacher is unable to teach effectively. Villagers fear that unless authorities take decisive action, the children of Gondivalasa will continue to be denied their fundamental right to education.
“We demand immediate intervention from the government. A school building should be constructed. There must be basic teaching materials. And, attendance of the teacher should be regularly monitored to ensure that the promise of education is not an empty assurance,” Venkat underlines.
