School in Noida Stays Idle While Students Learn in Shoddy Conditions
A school building prepared in October remains empty, yet to welcome its students in Noida.
A 12-room school facility in Noida's Bisrakh block continues to sit idle, while approximately 300 students strain to learn in dilapidated and congested spaces - all because of a delay in a formal inauguration by political leaders, as per a complaint filed by the All India Parents Association (AIPA).
In an unfortunate turn of events, students are crammed into a decaying four-room structure, with one room serving as the Head of School's office. Class 1 students are crammed into one of the remaining spaces, while the other students make do with tattered floor mats. Moreover, the Anganwadi children are subjected to learning under a temporary tent[1].
Terming this predicament as "shameful" and a blatant violation of children's fundamental rights, the letter cited the Right to Education Act of 2009 and stressed the urgent need for immediate access to the new building. It's not fair to prolong the deployment of this brand-new school facility for ceremonial purposes[1].
"It's downright inappropriate to have a functional school building neglected while children are forced to endure such unhygienic and crowded learning environments," Agarwal told our media outlet. "This delay in utilizing the facility for political events is not only insensitive, but it infringes upon the essential right to education."
However, basic education officer Rahul Pawar disputed the claim that the structure had been vacant for six months. He stated that the building construction was only recently completed, and some electrical and furniture work was incomplete, which has since been addressed. The inauguration is set for next week, and the facility, developed through CSR, is designed to accommodate up to 400 students[2].
Education activists argue that such cases aren't unique. "In various districts, we've witnessed instances of infrastructure laying dormant due to bureaucratic or political obstacles," said Neha Tiwari, an education activist. "While governments speak of boosting learning outcomes, such real-life scenarios shed light on the misalignment between ambition and implementation. Access to resources shouldn’t be contingent upon protocol[3]."
[1]: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/noida-school- Building- unused- awaiting-inauguration-1912025-2025-04-11[2]: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/ completion-of-construction-of-noida-school-building-contradicts-claim-of-unused-structure-official-123041100943_1.html[3]: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/infrastructure-hires-waiting- for-ceremonial-pursuit-renovation-of- Vande-Bharat-Mandir-temple-in-con- new-Delhi/article64872661.ece
- The government, in spite of promising to strengthen education infrastructure, is facing criticism for an unused school building in Bisrakh block, Noida, where students are forced to learn in shoddy conditions.
- Political leaders' delay in the formal inauguration of the building has been criticized by the All India Parents Association (AIPA) as a violation of children's fundamental rights, referring to the Right to Education Act of 2009.
- Education activist Neha Tiwari highlights that such cases of infrastructure laying dormant due to bureaucratic or political obstacles are not unique in various districts across India.
- Despite the basic education officer Rahul Pawar asserting that the construction was recently completed, education activists argue that thedelay in utilizing the facility for educational purposes is insensitive and infringes upon the essential right to education.
- In 2024, India is set to host several high-profile international cricket matches, and it is essential for the government to pay greater attention to these real-life scenarios, aligning their ambition for improving learning outcomes with implementation and allocation of resources.
- Agarwal, who spoke to the media outlet, said that it's inappropriate to prioritize ceremonial events over the immediate needs of the students, urging the government to prioritize education infrastructure over political considerations.
