Severe Infrastructure Issues Plague Government Primary School in Bhadrak District

The Government Primary School in Belda, Mundasahi, is facing critical infrastructural challenges, with 119 students crammed into just two classrooms. The lack of basic facilities such as separate toilets, a proper kitchen, and adequate classrooms has raised serious concerns among parents and local residents. Despite the government's push for educational growth, the school's condition highlights significant gaps in infrastructure development. Community members are urging immediate action to address these pressing issues, as the absence of a permanent headmaster further complicates management. This situation calls for urgent attention to ensure a conducive learning environment for the students.

By Ambika Singh Sep 15, 2026, 10:38 IST

Critical Condition of Belda Mundasahi School

By Bijay Panda

Ganijang: The Government Primary School located in Belda, Mundasahi, within the Ganijang panchayat of Bhadrak district, is grappling with significant infrastructural deficiencies. Currently, 119 students are crammed into just two classrooms.

The institution is devoid of essential facilities such as adequate classrooms, a storeroom, an office, toilets, and piped drinking water. Due to the limited space, some students are compelled to attend classes on the verandah. Furthermore, there is no proper kitchen for preparing mid-day meals, nor are there separate toilets for boys and girls.

The area surrounding the hand pump, which students use for drinking water, is also unsanitary, raising serious health concerns. Established in 2008, the school caters to students from Sishu Vatika to Class V and currently accommodates 119 learners.

Although the school requires five classrooms, only two are currently available. This shortage forces students from different grades to share the same space, with some having to sit outside. Such arrangements have negatively impacted both teaching and learning experiences.

When a teacher is instructing one group, students from another class in the same room often disrupt the lesson. Teachers face challenges in managing two classes at once, which complicates the educational process. The lack of fundamental infrastructure has created significant hurdles for both students and educators.

Parents and community members have voiced their concerns regarding the school's condition, urging authorities to take swift action to provide the necessary classrooms and facilities. In light of the government's slogan, 'Sabhien Padhiba, Sabhien Badhiba (All learn, all grow),' the current state of the school raises serious questions about the effectiveness of educational infrastructure at the grassroots level.

The school employs three regular teachers, including female staff, and one Sishu Sevika (child-care worker) for the younger students. However, it has been without a permanent headmaster for the last five years, relying instead on an in-charge headmaster. Mitarani Nath, president of the School Management Committee, highlighted that the lack of classrooms is severely hindering students' education.

She also mentioned the difficulties of preparing mid-day meals in the limited space available. With no separate toilets for boys and girls, all students must share a single facility. Nath has called for immediate resolution of these issues. In-charge headmaster Pratap Chandra Mohapatra noted that the absence of a permanent headmaster since 2022 has complicated the management of both the school and the hostel.

With over 75 students residing in the hostel, challenges arise in meal preparation and supervision. The classroom shortage is also affecting educational quality, while the lack of an office space complicates administrative tasks, Mohapatra explained.

He added that the block education officer has been made aware of these issues. Block Education Officer Chittaranjan Mohanty acknowledged the need for additional classrooms. He stated that both the district education officer and block development officer have been requested to facilitate the construction of new rooms.

Mohanty also mentioned that the school has not received any special funding in the past five years, which has hindered infrastructure improvements. He assured that measures would be taken to appoint more teachers based on the student-teacher ratio.