Bhawanipatna: An upgraded high school in Kalahandi district have adopted the old van vidyalaya (class in the woods) system of teaching at a time the state government is considering the introduction of audio-visual teaching in its schools.

Classes at this institution are held out in the open. While the compound wall doubles up as blackboards, the trees provide shade to the students and teachers.

The Udeipur Upgraded High School, which is situated around 8km from the Bhawanipatana district headquarters township, has been operating in this system for the past year. The reason for this is the four buildings of the school are in a precarious state and the public works department has declared them unsafe. With the safety of children and the teachers on their mind, the school authorities have locked up the unsafe buildings.

The students and teachers then adapted to the outdoor classrooms. Blackboards were built into the boundary walls and the children sit on the ground now. "We cannot jeopardise safety of the children. Holding classes in the unsafe buildings is a risky proposition. That is why we are being forced to hold classes in the open. Classes are suspended when it rains and we organise extra classes to make up for lost time," said school headmaster Pradip Kumar Nayak.

Around 300 students are enrolled in the school that has classes I through X.

"The government has sanctioned Rs 52 lakh funds for the school buildings. The grants have already been placed before the works department. We hope the construction work will resume shortly. We are thinking of relocating the students to a nearby school for classroom teaching," said Paradip district education officer Pradip Kumar Nag.