With an ageing building and little room to expand, Doksum Primary School in Trashi Yangtse is facing increasing pressure. With the recent influx of families working for the Khorlochhu project, the school enrolled 50 new students this year, bringing the total to almost 190. The number is expected to rise to around 250 by next year, but the school’s two-decade-old infrastructure and lack of space are struggling to keep up.
This is Doksum Primary School, constructed more than two decades ago on around 50 decimals of land.
Now the school’s structure is old and small. Due to the limited area, the school lacks an assembly ground and a proper outdoor playground.
Lacking proper structure, all school programmes are conducted in this temporary hall made of CGI sheets, few years ago.
With the start of the Khorlochhu project, the number of students has increased. The school expects the number to rise to about 250 next year.
Students are currently accommodated in old, cramped classrooms, and the situation worsens during the scorching summer months.
Sangay Wangmo, a student said, “I came here because my father works in the project. There is a big difference between my previous school, Babesa Primary School and the current school here at Doksum. In Babesa, we had a playground for sports and other outdoor activities to stay healthy and active. But here, the school is in a small area with no playground, so we have to go elsewhere to play football and other sports.”
Kinga Yoesel, another student said, “Due to the water shortage, we cannot flush the toilets properly. The smell sticks in our clothes, making the classroom stink, and we often feel dizzy and unable to concentrate on our studies.”
Jurmey Jampel Sheynan, who is a student said, “Our classroom is small, but we have many students. During summer, it gets very hot and congested, making us sweat and unable to concentrate on study properly.”
Likewise, Sonam Cheki said, “When it’s hot and windy, the school becomes dry and dusty, making it easy for us to catch cough and cold. Our school is located on a slope, and since there isn’t a proper playground, small children are in risk getting injured while playing.”
The Trashi Yangtse District Administration said that the Khorlochhu project will construct a new school in Doksum and is currently in the survey and designing phase. The project will fund the construction, with cost estimation underway.
Doksum Primary School was first established in 1991 and it was later relocated to its present site in 2003.
Sonam Darjay, Trashi Yangtse
Edited by Kipchu
