Kendrapara: Students of the district's lone Adarsha Vidyalaya at Tarando village have been enjoying an indefinite holiday. While the students are happy to stay at home, spending time in leisure, they don't know when they will be able to return to their own classrooms.
Classes were suspended in the school two weeks ago after unseasonal rain flooded the school campus.
The school, which began operation in the current academic session, was built on a low-lying area. As a result, the slightest drizzle turns the school campus and its peripheral areas into mini-pools, alleged the parent of a student.
"Classes have been suspended since September 2 following rain-induced waterlogging. Though the water has receded from the campus, the road connecting the institution still remains submerged. As students will have to negotiate knee-deep water to reach school, classes are yet to commence," said a school official.
Another parent of a student, requesting anonymity, said: "The school authorities have made a mockery of the model school concept. The school began functioning only this year. Yet, for almost a fortnight, the school is closed. Our wards are suffering academically as a result."
"The school is located in a low-lying area. It will be inundated whenever it rains in torrents," he said.
Qualitative classroom teaching in classes VI and VII and better academic environment drew 160 meritorious students from government-run primary schools to the Adarsha Vidyalaya. The Adarsha Vidyalayas are also being regarded as modern schools on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas and follow the CBSE pattern of study.
"With high expectations, parents and guardians enrolled their wards in the school. However, we are perturbed a because of such unscheduled interruptions in classroom teaching," said another parent.
Kendrapara collector Dasarathy Satpathy said: "The administration has initiated steps to solve the waterlogging problem that is affecting classroom teaching at the school. We are trying to take permanent steps so that the areas are not submerged in the future."
Till the waterlogging problem is sorted out, classes will resume from September 18 at Kendrapara Government High School, he added.
