SASARAM: Nearly 200 students at a government school in Rohtas are being forced to squeeze into a single classroom, with two of the three rooms allegedly being used to store cattle feed, grass-cutting machines and other equipment.The situation at Upgraded Middle School in Doiya village of Chenari block, around 30km from Sasaram, has left four classes sharing one room. School authorities said the arrangement has severely disrupted teaching and, during the monsoon, has at times forced suspension of classes.The school building, constructed in 2003, has three rooms. According to school authorities, local resident Sonu Yadav has allegedly been using two rooms to store cattle feed, machines and other equipment used for cutting grass for cattle. Yadav claims that the land on which the school stands belongs to him.With two rooms unavailable, around 200 students enrolled at the school and coming from several villages have only one classroom for their academic activities. Four classes are conducted in the same room, making it difficult for teachers and students to conduct lessons properly.Class VII student Tulsi Yadav, son of farmer Brij Yadav, said he has to walk through muddy water and garbage to reach school, where cattle and foul smell make studying difficult.“We have simply no choice but study in such miserable conditions. When it rains, the situation gets worse for us,” he said.The situation becomes more difficult during heavy rain, with water leaking into the classrooms. School authorities said classes are sometimes suspended as cattle are allegedly kept in the school hall, leaving little or no space for students in the already rundown building.Headmaster Md Nasheer has reportedly brought the matter to the notice of senior officials several times and sought intervention to have the school premises vacated. However, no effective action has been taken so far, according to school authorities.School records also indicate that several senior officials have visited the institution since its establishment in 2003. Despite this, the alleged occupation of the school rooms and use of the premises for keeping cattle and storing fodder have continued.The issue was raised by local MLA Murari Gautam at a district-level meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting, district education officer Madan Roy reportedly acknowledged that the school building and premises belonged to a local villager.Rohtas district magistrate Deepak Kumar Mishra said the matter was raised during the meeting and assured that an inquiry would be conducted. He said action would be taken against anyone found guilty, irrespective of their position.Meanwhile, Yadav maintained that the land on which the school stands belongs to him and cited his ownership claim as the reason for using the premises to keep cattle and store fodder. Authorities, however, have raised questions over the claim and promised action.For now, the students have little choice but to continue studying in a packed classroom amid a crumbling school building, cattle and foul smell.
