Kendrapara: Authorities of the Junushnagar Upgraded Upper Primary School in Rajnagar tehsil are conducting classes in the open for the past two years as the school building is on the verge of cave-in.

The public works department has declared the school buildings as "unsafe".

Keeping the safety of children in mind, the school authorities have locked up the dilapidated building. So, the students now sit on the ground to learn from teachers.

"To ensure the children's safety, we are holding classes in the open air. The classes remain suspended in rains. We hold extra classes to make up for the loss of study," said headmaster Rajendra Ram.

The school that caters to classroom teaching of students from classes I to VIII has the roll strength of 214 students, mostly from the poor backgrounds.

"For all practical purpose, it's undeclared holidays for students in the monsoon. Children skip classes and prefer to stay home whenever it rains or the sky turns overcast," he said.

"Though the schools and mass education department is flush with funds for school building projects, the authorities seem to have turned blind eye towards the plight of students and parents of this sleepy village," said a parent.

"We have written to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for sanction of grants under reconstruction of school building project. We are hopeful that the project would resume shortly," said district education officer Ananta Kumar Behera.