Koraput: Academic activities have been badly hit for lack of adequate infrastructure and teachers at the primary school at Dangara village in Jeypore block of the district.

Established in 1953, the school has a student strength of 74 with classes from I to V. However, classes are not being taken regularly with only one teacher posted at the school. Besides, students are forced to sit in a single room and on the verandah owing to lack of adequate classrooms.

"As cracks have developed in the classroom walls, it is not safe to allow children to sit in those rooms. In view of the heavy rain, the building may collapse at anytime. Hence, the classes are being taken on the school verandah," said a member of the school management committee.

More so, without any boundary wall in place, stray animals frequently venture on the school premises and create problem for the children. And on top of it, the school has no toilet facility for students and is functioning without electricity connection.

As the lone teacher is also the headmaster in-charge of the school, it is often found closed as the teacher has to go out to perform official chores. "I have to manage both the jobs - taking classes as well as looking after the official work. As I have to attend several official meetings either at the block or district headquarters, I have to close the school as I am the lone teacher," said Tapan Kumar Harijan, the teacher.

He said a headmaster had been posted at the school. But after his death in March, no new postings have been made.

Jeypore MLA and Congress chief whie Tara Prasad Bahinipati has demanded for the immediate posting of adequate teachers at the school and also urged the authority to repair the school building at the earliest.

"The authorities have been made aware about the problems. Steps will be taken to sort it out," said Jeypore additional block education officer Harish Chandra Rao.