Koraput: The Anchla Primary School under Dabugaon block in Nabarangpur district presents a dismal picture.

The school, which had been established in 1972, is functioning in a makeshift hut, for which academic activities have been reportedly collapsed. "The old school building had collapsed several years ago, and since then, classes have been taken in a makeshift hut. Children face much problem as stray animals venture inside the hut, and in rains, the condition becomes worst. During the monsoon, the school often remains closed," said Prasanna Majhi, a villager.

The school with classes from I to V have student strength of 42 with three teachers. Without adequate space, all the children are made to sit together and a corner of the hut is used as the school office.

"On several occasions we have approached the authorities concerned for construction of a permanent building for the school, but in vain," rued Sadan Majhi, another villager.

According to sources, the primary school is not an isolated case. As many as 37 schools of the district, which had been opened in the past five years, do not have their own buildings, thereby forcing the students to sit either in the open or in makeshift huts.

"Most of the schools without their own buildings are located at Papdahandi, Jharigaon, Tentulikhunti and Umerkote blocks of the district. While the state government speaks much to increase literacy rate among tribal people, the ground reality speaks of something different," said former Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi. "It's very unfortunate that the students are forced to sit in the open. On a priority basis, the administration should construct school buildings," he said.

Admitting that several schools in the district did not have their own buildings, Nabarangpur district education officer Chandra Sekhar Panigrahi said: "We are aware of the problem, and construction of buildings for at least 30 schools has begun. It is hoped that the buildings will be completed before June."