Kendrapara, 3rd Sept 2025: Schools are closed for Ganesh Puja. Due to lack of a permanent school building, children have been deprived of their studies as they used to study at the club house. Now, since Ganesh Puja is being conducted at the club house, classes have been suspended since August 26. Such an unusual situation has been observed at Sujanagar Primary School under Gulnagar Panchayat in Kendrapara block, a short distance from the district headquarters.
This is a clear violation of the Right to Education Act, 2009. Children have been deprived of education due to deliberate negligence. Since the construction of a permanent school building has not been completed, the students have been left in an incomplete state of education. After the Ganesh Puja on August 27, Nuakhai on the 28th, and holidays on the 29th, classes have been shut since August 26 (Tuesday), August 30 (Saturday), and today, September 1.
Moreover, schools will remain closed on September 2 (Tuesday) for Ganesh Puja celebrations and speeches. The school authority has also informed the club that classes may be suspended on September 3 (Wednesday).
It is alleged that after the 1999 super cyclone, the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund built this primary school at Sujanagar. The two-story building had become unsafe and hazardous. Since continuing education there was impossible, the school was graded incomplete three times, ridiculing the Right to Education Act.
Though it has been over two and a half years since the new building’s construction began, no tangible progress has been made. While children studied in the upper floor balcony or the anganwadi center, concrete slabs suddenly started falling from the ceiling. Fortunately, no student was injured.
After deciding the school building was unsafe, students were shifted to the nearby village club and Thakurani’s house. The unsafe building was completely demolished and a new one started about two and a half years ago. Despite this, the school construction has not been completed, and students continue to study in the old club house, which is overcrowded.
Club activities often disrupt their studies. Currently, around 53 students from first to fifth grades are studying here. The school is supposed to have 3 teachers, but after two teachers took leave in June, only one teacher is handling all classes.
Kendrapara Block Education Officer (DEO) Narayan Chandra Mantri said they are aware of the complaints. Since Ganesh Puja is ongoing at the club, classes are currently suspended. Once the school building is completed, students will be able to study there. However, contractors have not handed over the building due to pending bills.
We will provide a video update on this issue in writing tomorrow.