Kendrapara: Nearly 20,000 schoolchildren in the district are suffering in this blistering summer as their schools don't have electricity.

About 55 per cent of primary and upper primary level schools in the district are running without electricity bringing into light the deficiencies in the government education system.

Of the 2,308 schools, from primary to high school level in the district, 1276 schools don't have electricity. The figures reveal that 55 per cent of schools don't have electricity in the district.

The district accounts for 1,430 primary level schools. Incidentally, two-third of these schools are yet to get electricity. An estimated 20,000 students enrolled in these schools are having a harrowing time following the rise in mercury.

The schools and mass education officials said lack of electricity had not affected the classroom teaching.

"Schoolchildren are not suffering from heat as classes are being held in the morning. Still, the department has requested the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) authorities to provide electricity to these school, said district education officer Udaynath Majhi.

Even if the government provides electricity to these schools, fund allocation to pay the electricity bills would be a difficult task.

With no distinct fiscal provision for payment of electricity dues, the authorities in majority of schools having electricity find it difficult to clear off electricity bills.

"There is no financial provision for the payment of electricity bill. As a result, authorities are forced to pay Rs 5,000 from annual school improvement grants for electricity, said a retired headmaster of a government-run school Abani Mohan Mohanty.