From Our Correspondent
RONGJENG, April 6: The Boldil Government Aided LP School under Rongjeng C&RD Block in East Garo Hills presents a grim picture of Meghalaya’s education infrastructure. Established in 1998 and later upgraded under the SSA, the school has reportedly not seen a single repair in nearly 30 years, forcing students and teachers to operate out of a small kitchen.
Located in Gabil Boldil village, about 20 km from Rongjeng, the school is situated in difficult terrain accessible only by two-wheelers or 4WD vehicles. During the monsoon, the village becomes nearly inaccessible.
The main school building is currently in total ruins, lacking a roof, doors, and windows. Locals noted that the abandoned structure is frequently misused by trespassers for drinking. “The floor has been dug up and resembles a pig shed more than a school,” a source said.
With the main building condemned, the entire school—consisting of over 50 students across six classes—has moved into the lone intact structure: the kitchen meant for preparing mid-day meals.
“We had to move to the kitchen as it was the only usable room. Two teachers are now imparting education simultaneously to at least six classes in the same small space. When all children attend, we have to accommodate some outside the kitchen,” said the headmaster, who has been with the school since its inception.
Despite the dire conditions, the school maintains a reputation for quality education, with its alumni successfully clearing matriculation and higher secondary exams. However, the lack of space prevents the school from enrolling more students from the 51 households in the village.
The school authorities claim their repeated pleas for help have been ignored. “We have contacted the East Garo Hills administration and the Education department, but there has been no positive response. We even informed local MLA Jim Sangma, but nothing has moved,” the headmaster added.
Social activist Nilbath Ch Marak termed the situation “criminal.”
“The state claims education is a priority, yet rural infrastructure remains a joke. This level of ineptitude is a violation of human rights. No child should have to suffer such conditions to get an education,” Marak said.
