Sarpang Lower Secondary School was to be upgraded to a Middle Secondary School this year. But, it is not going to happen any time soon. The construction works have come to a halt since last week after the contractor missed the third extended deadline.
The ministry of education is now looking for other alternative to complete the construction. Works to improve the infrastructure began in 2010 and was supposed to be completed by 2012.
Meanwhile, the teachers and the students are facing the brunt of incomplete construction. The school has been using the old living quarters of the Royal Bhutan Army. More than 50 students are crammed into some of the classrooms. And the classes are in dire need of maintenance.
“We have acute shortage of classes and the classes are too small,” said the vice-principal, Charan Rai, adding that the teaching learning process does not go very well.
“Students do not have toilets. We have more than 1000 students and we have around six units of toilets, which is not enough and that is only in the old block. In the new block, we don’t have toilets and no water,” he added.
And now that the summer is approaching teachers are worried that it will only add to the problem. “In a hot place like this not having electricity and fans is a big problem. And then we have to go all the way to the office on the other side to use the toilet. It can be a real problem when someone else is using the toilet,” said one of the teachers, Tobgay.
There is no proper sport ground as well. “I have been here for three years and we could not conduct singe sports day for students. Whenever we have sports meet, we have big problem of selecting students and giving them training,” said Karma Kuenzang, the Coach.
According to sources the construction could not be completed because of labour shortage and host of other reasons. The matter is with the ministry now.
