Seng-Gye Gewog under Sarpang Dzongkhag has only one school, the Seng-Gye Community Primary School. The school is located between the Samartun and Balatun streams. The children of Sangaythang and Zhichathang villages have to cross the Samartun stream to go to school and back home.
Our reporter, Phurba, who visited the Gewog recently and travelled with the students, says that the students are facing lot of difficulties, especially at this time of the year. The students go to school in a group and every morning a parent takes turn to join the group to ensure their safety especially while crossing the Samartun stream.
A suspension bridge runs over the stream but parents and children prefer to cross the stream rather than using the bridge as it means walking 30 minutes extra. Parents and children said it is risky to cross the stream.
Similar problem is faced by the children of Labtsakha and Nyenyul villages. They have to cross the Balatun stream. There too, parents take turn to drop their children to school every day.
However, during the monsoon when the water volume swells, students have to stay back home as it is risky to cross the river in the absence of a bridge. Parents and students said it affects their studies. Sometimes students wait for the water volume to recede and go to school only in the afternoon.
