In Bihar’s Darbhanga district, the government school at Basudeopur village in Bahadurpur block has been functioning under a peepal tree for the last 23 years. With no building, no proper classrooms, and limited teaching infrastructure, children here continue their studies sitting on mats or bare ground. This reality exists even as the state boasts an education budget of over ₹60,000 crore in 2024–25. The students endure extreme weather conditions, lack of toilets, and no drinking water—all while dreaming of a better future through education.
I’m writing about this because while we often talk about smart classrooms, digital learning, and educational reforms in India, there are still corners of the country where children don’t even have a roof over their heads while studying. These stories need to be told—not just to highlight administrative failure but to remind us that the right to education also means access to basic facilities. If our system can spend thousands of crores on education, why are children still being taught under trees? This isn’t just a rural problem—it’s a larger issue of accountability, equity, and long-pending promises that affect the most marginalised.
What’s Happening at Basudeopur Middle School
Located in Bahadurpur block of Darbhanga, Basudeopur Middle School was established in 2001. But since its beginning, the school has never had its own building. There are about 140 enrolled students, and yet, not a single classroom exists for them. The classes happen under the open sky—under the shade of a peepal tree—come summer, winter or rain.
Due to the absence of a building, students sit on torn mats or even on bare ground. There’s no electricity, no water supply, and no toilet facility for children or staff. In the monsoon, classes are often cancelled because the ground turns muddy and waterlogged.
A 60,000 Crore Question
The irony is hard to miss. For the financial year 2024–25, the Bihar government has allocated over ₹60,000 crore to the education sector. The promise is to strengthen school infrastructure, improve learning outcomes, and expand digital tools across classrooms. Yet, schools like Basudeopur stand as examples of how the system often forgets the last child in the queue.
When asked, local officials say proposals have been sent for building construction multiple times, but the file keeps getting stuck somewhere in the approval pipeline. Meanwhile, children grow up under trees, and teachers struggle to maintain attendance and discipline without even a blackboard or proper seating.
Voices From the Ground
Here’s what a teacher from the school reportedly shared:
“We are tired of making repeated requests to the block and district offices. Every time we raise the issue, we are told it will be resolved soon. Years have passed, but nothing changes.”
Parents too are frustrated. One parent said, “How can our children compete with students from better schools when they don’t even have a roof? Still, we send them here because there is no other school nearby.”
The Bigger Picture: More Than Just One School
Basudeopur is not an isolated case. There are several such government-run schools in Bihar and across India where basic infrastructure is missing even after years of operation. According to various surveys:
- Over 15% of government schools in Bihar lack proper classroom buildings
- About 20% do not have functional toilets
- Nearly 25% lack electricity connections
- Access to clean drinking water is still a problem in several rural blocks
This clearly shows that budget allocations alone are not enough unless there is proper planning, execution, and monitoring.
What Needs to Be Done Immediately
- Fast-track construction of school buildings for long-pending institutions like Basudeopur
- Set clear deadlines for basic infrastructure like toilets, water and classrooms
- Assign accountability to district-level officers for delay in execution
- Engage local communities through school development committees to push authorities
- Regular monitoring from the education department to track schools still running without infrastructure
