In the hilly hamlet of Narkat located in the Mainpat region, roughly 55 kilometres from Surguja divisional headquarters in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, basic primary education continues to function under precarious conditions. Young children from surrounding settlements gather inside a makeshift shelter constructed with dry grass, wooden poles, and plastic sheets to receive their lessons. Ever since the primary school began operations in 1997, it has never possessed a permanent concrete building, leaving classroom activities vulnerable to the elements for decades.
The learning facility lacks solid walls, a cemented roof, a dedicated mid-day meal kitchen, and any playground space for recreational activities. Inside the structure, there are no desks or benches, forcing young learners to sit directly on floor mats spread across the dirt ground. Whenever high winds blow or severe storms hit the hills, the thatched roof is repeatedly damaged or blown away, directly interrupting classroom sessions.
Monsoon Rains Expose Structural Hazards Inside the Hut
Seasonal weather shifts bring acute hardship to the students and teaching staff. Headmaster Johan Tirkey pointed out that the monsoon period causes the most severe disruption. Heavy downpours accompanied by thunderstorms cause rainwater to leak continuously through the thatched ceiling. Water seeps in from all sides, soaking the entire interior and wetting the mats where students sit. Safeguarding school materials, books, and registers becomes nearly impossible during such spells.
Quarter-Century Relying on Temporary Shelters
The institutional history of the Narkat primary school has been defined by stopgap measures since its inception. According to the headmaster, students have been taught under temporary arrangements continuously since 1997. In the initial years, classes were conducted in a mud house partitioned by fabric. Later, teaching shifted into a windowless, dark room. Currently, teaching takes place inside a shelter framed with reed poles and enclosed with plastic sheeting. Despite decades of operation, a permanent brick-and-mortar structure has never been erected.
Annual Repairs Funded and Executed Before Each Academic Year
Maintaining the fragile hut requires regular physical upkeep before the rains arrive each year. Headmaster Johan Tirkey explained that sourcing new plastic coverings, procuring wooden poles, and hiring local labourers must be organized and financed locally prior to reopening the school. This extensive repair effort is undertaken every year simply to ensure a dry overhead shelter where children can be seated safely.
Severe Spatial Constraints Hinder Basic Blackboards
The cramped footprint of the hut severely limits regular classroom pedagogical practices. There is insufficient room to store teaching equipment, and teachers even face difficulty positioning a basic blackboard properly for clear instruction. Conducting dynamic educational activities or interactive learning exercises remains unfeasible in such a confined space. In spite of these severe spatial constraints, the teachers continue their efforts to impart lessons to the pupils.
17 Enrolled Students Drawn from Majhwar, Korwa, and Oraon Communities
Presently, a total of 17 students are enrolled in the Narkat primary school. The majority of these children belong to the Majhwar community, alongside pupils from the Korwa and Oraon tribal groups. For families residing in this remote mountainous belt, the thatched hut represents the only accessible public educational facility for their young children.
No Dedicated Kitchen Forces Off-Site Mid-Day Meal Preparation
The absence of dedicated school infrastructure also impacts daily welfare provisions. Because there is no space for an on-site kitchen, mandatory mid-day meals cannot be prepared on school premises. Instead, the meals are cooked at a neighbouring residence and brought across to the hut for distribution among the children. During harsh summer months, indoor conditions become stifling, as the fragile structure lacks the capacity and electrical provision to mount ceiling or wall fans.
Administrative Sanction Awaited for Ground-Level Construction
Headmaster Johan Tirkey indicated that the lack of infrastructure has been reported to higher educational authorities repeatedly over time. Whenever administrative surveys are conducted regarding schools lacking permanent premises, the reality of the Narkat primary school is submitted to department officials. Authorities have conveyed that the construction of a permanent school building has received official sanction, with physical groundwork expected to commence following the monsoon season.
The headmaster emphasized that the school does not demand elaborate infrastructure, but views a safe, durable, and permanent building as an urgent necessity. While instructional work continues at the teacher level, the absence of a proper building remains a daily operational bottleneck that compromises student safety and learning conditions.
