Paradip, Dec. 3: For nearly 400 tiny tots enrolled in a government-run primary school here, it’s undeclared holidays as the institute has been indefinitely locked up due to its dilapidated condition.

Harried parents have drawn the attention of authorities to resume classes, but to no avail. The school at Nolia Sahi, a locality with population of about 5,000, wears a deserted look. With no classrooms to teach, teachers here while away time.

“This is a mockery of the Right to Education Act by the schools and mass education department. Children are being denied education,” alleged chairman of the management committee of Nolia Sahi project primary school Kailash Rout.

“The school building is unsafe. The walls, the interior and exterior structure of the school have developed sizeable cracks. Safety of children was at stake. We had drawn the attention of our higher-ups, but in vain,” he rued.

The authorities have stopped classroom teaching without making alternative arrangements. Children, who are from poor economic background, have lost their study hours, lamented a guardian, Sushama Samal.

Purnananda Sethy, another guardian, said: “We survive on fishing. We are poor people. Though I want to educate my child, I cannot afford the luxury of English medium school for my 11-year-old son.”

Students keep busy with other work. Class VI student Raj Kishore Das said: “I am helping my mother in dry fish preparation. My father has gone on fishing. I will assist my mother till the school reopens.” Headmaster Tapan Kumar Bindhani said classes were suspended following directions of the higher officers. “Besides, parents and guardians are apprehensive of the safety of their wards as the school is in a bad shape,” he said. Block education officer Bhimsen Biswal said steps were being taken to refurbish the school building. “As a precautionary measure, classroom teaching has been stopped. We are trying to build a makeshift shed for resumption of classes at the earliest,” he said.