Ghaziabad: In 2019, Ajabpur Primary School Muradnagar had its moment in the sun when its students formed the musical troupe that welcomed a distinguished guest — then Norwegian PM Erna Solberg. Dressed in crisp uniforms, the children marched alongside Solberg, beating drums in a rhythm they rehearsed and perfected.The event drew praise, and the school attention. Admissions increased, new benches arrived. The walls came alive with colourful BALA (Building as Learning Aid) paintings. A new concrete dining table was built for midday meals. The campus was transformed into one of the city’s ‘model primary schools’.Then one day, eight months ago, students found they had no classroom to walk into. In Nov 2025, the school building was declared unsafe by the education department after an inspection found portions of the roof could collapse anytime. Classes were moved out. Parents were told renovation would begin soon.But neither has renovation begun, nor has the money arrived.So students of the ‘model school’ now assemble for classes at a Ram Leela ground nearly 3 km away. School is a hall and a storeroom separated by a curtain (meant as a resting area for actors during performances) and an open patch of ground next to it. The hall holds around 20 students of Class IV, a blackboard, a teacher’s chair, an almirah and some benches that double as storage for books and stationery.Principal Suman said they had the curtain custom-printed with alphabets, birds and everyday objects, turning the partition into a teaching aid. “There was simply no wall left to use,” a teacher said.The rest of the students from classes I to III and V sit outside on mats spread across open ground. The children have now sat through three months of summer heat, two months of winter and are into their first monsoon in the open. “During summer it became very difficult to study outside,” said Kajal, a Class II student. “Ma’am brought a pedestal fan and a cooler from her house,” she added, referring to her class teacher.Despite the challenges, teachers have soldiered on, and students have continued to perform well academically. This year, the primary school was among only seven govt schools in Ghaziabad to earn NIPUN certification for foundational literacy and numeracy. Its students have represented the institution at a national climate conference, won gold and silver at state-level junior sports meets, and performed well in the Hindi Olympiad.Nabya can recite the names of all 75 districts of the state in under 90 seconds and dreams of becoming a doctor. “I want to study in a good school, but my parents cannot afford a private school,” said the Class IV student, who sorely misses the earlier building. “Our old school had classrooms, benches, a playground, a dining area, a kitchen and even a garden. Everything was there. Here, we have nothing. I will leave this school after a year, but I will always remember my old one.”The temporary campus has just one makeshift toilet for all 108 students and their teachers, and for most girls, it is a last resort. “The washroom is very dirty and stinks,” said Anjali, a Class IV student. “I don’t use it at all. I avoid drinking water because of that.” Teachers worry the lack of facilities will eventually dent attendance, particularly among girls. “The school needs at least three classrooms and a separate kitchen for its midday meals, and is turning away interested families for lack of space,” a teacher said.Others told TOI that if reconstruction did not begin before the Ram Leela festivities in Oct, the school may have to relocate again or suspend classes till another temporary campus is found. “We shifted here believing it would only be for a few months,” said Suman. “Initially, the children were hesitant because everything had changed. Gradually they adjusted, but this arrangement cannot continue forever. These children deserve proper classrooms. No matter what, I will run the school, and not close it at any cost.”Basic shiksha adhikari OP Yadav said the requirements for the funds have been sent to the state govt. “The budget is expected in July. Once the funds are received, the construction work might take another six months. Till then, some arrangements will be made for the safety of the students,” he said.Solberg had visited a few govt primary and upper primary schools at Nithora village in Loni, along with Unicef officials, where the Ajabpur school students welcomed her.
