The situation in Bihar's government schools raises several serious questions. In some places, there are not even facilities for students, while in others, new buildings worth millions of rupees have been constructed but have not yet begun to be used for education.
Some schools are inaccessible due to the lack of roads, forcing children to risk their lives by crossing national highways. Other new buildings have stood locked for years, and some were demolished even before the start of the academic year.
A local investigation conducted by Aaj Tak in the districts of Supaul, Begusarai, Munger, Vaishali, and Sitamarhi revealed a worrying picture of the education system in these five districts.
In Simrahi Bazar village, Ragopur block, Supaul, is Lakhichand Sahu Middle School, established in 1958, which is now about seventy years old. During the 2013-14 period, construction began on a new model school on the premises of this school, intended to provide education for children from the sixth to the twelfth grade.
According to local residents, this magnificent new block was fully ready about seven or eight years ago, but not a single lesson has been held in it. Today, this building is completely derelict. According to the Aaj Tak report, dense jungles and bushes are growing around it. Windows and doors have been stolen, and metal window grills have been dismantled. Electrical wires and other necessary items have also been stolen, and the floor tiles have been ripped out.
Currently, this building has become a gathering place for anti-social elements and drug addicts. Syringes and needles used in various places were found inside, as well as empty bottles and materials related to drugs. A district council member, Smriti Kumari, stated that the building was never handed over to the government even after its completion. She directly blamed the department's negligence for the new school turning into ruins.
School teacher Ajay Kumar reported that a toilet facility was not built in the new building, which was the main reason for the building's inability to be handed over. He also mentioned that a complaint had been filed at the local police station regarding thefts from this building.
In Kirtaul, Teghara block, Begusarai, a new renovated middle school building costing about fifteen lakh rupees was constructed and ceremoniously opened, but classes never started in it. The main reason is the lack of an access road to the school. The building is located about one hundred meters from the main road, amidst agricultural fields. There is no road, let alone a paved one, not even a small path.
When the Aaj Tak team arrived at the site, the main entrance to the school was locked, and the entire campus was overgrown with large trees. Crops were growing around the school. Local residents said that young children from this village are forced to travel to other schools located one and a half to two kilometers away, where there is also a severe shortage of classrooms.
The land for this school was donated by local residents in 2018, when about six katthas of land were donated. Then, in 2023-24, the building was constructed using donations from the charitable fund of the then Teghara MP, Ramratna Singh, at a cost of about fifteen lakh rupees. However, because it was built without a road, the school has still not been able to start operations. A serious question arises: why did no one pay attention to the need for a road when choosing the location for the school?
In Naya Tola Prasando village, Haveli Kardgpur block, Munger, a large two-story school building costing about thirty lakh rupees was erected. This building includes three large halls, an office, a toilet, and a proper water supply system. Nevertheless, not a single day of classes has started in this new building. It has remained locked for about a year.
The main problem here is also related to the lack of a road leading to the school. Furthermore, the school complex lacks electricity supply. The condition of this long-closed building is beginning to deteriorate. Part of the well has been destroyed, and large cracks are visible on many walls. Cow dung and garbage have accumulated in the schoolyard. According to available information, about one hundred students are enrolled in this school, whose education is currently taking place in a public building.
Vaishali: Closed for eleven years