Classrooms Without Basics

Across many parts of India, children walk into classrooms each day that lack the very basics of learning — no electricity, broken furniture, leaky roofs, or even functional toilets. For many young learners, especially girls, this is not just uncomfortable, it’s a barrier to education. That’s why girls boarding schools in Dehradun are often held up as examples of how proper infrastructure and an enriching environment can transform a child’s academic journey. But the stark contrast between these well-equipped campuses and rural schools raises an important question — why aren’t we providing the same essentials to all?

Without clean drinking water, blackboards, proper lighting, or even a safe place to sit, the classroom becomes a space of survival rather than growth. The lack of these elements isn't just an inconvenience — it’s a daily struggle that contributes to poor attendance, low focus, and high dropout rates.

What’s Missing in These Classrooms?

• Sanitation facilities: Especially for adolescent girls, lack of clean and private toilets leads to irregular attendance.

• Furniture and learning tools: Broken benches or no desks at all impact posture, comfort, and the ability to write or concentrate.

• Electricity and fans: In hot or dimly-lit regions, learning becomes physically and mentally draining.

• Safe classrooms: Crumbling walls, leaking roofs, or unsafe structures put students at daily risk.

These aren’t luxury additions — they’re the minimum a child needs to learn with dignity and safety.

Second Paragraph of the Article:

Government reports and NGO surveys repeatedly show that thousands of schools across the country lack electricity, drinking water, or boundary walls. In tribal and remote areas, some schools operate under trees or in tin sheds, without access to trained teachers or textbooks. In such conditions, learning is reduced to a formality. Education cannot thrive without the infrastructure to support it. This glaring gap becomes more pronounced when compared to urban or private institutions that offer air-conditioned classrooms, computer labs, and sports fields. The question isn’t about making every school luxurious — it’s about making every school livable and functional.

The Impact on Learning & Motivation

When classrooms are missing these basics:

• Students tend to drop out early.

• Teachers struggle to manage and motivate.

• Parents lose trust in the system.

More importantly, it sends a dangerous message to young minds: that their education doesn’t matter enough for better conditions.

We Can Do Better

India has the capacity, resources, and talent to fix this — what’s needed is consistent investment and accountability. Civil society, corporates, and the government must collaborate more effectively.

Some key solutions include:

• Prioritizing funds for school repairs and basic facilities.

• Training local volunteers and retired professionals as support staff.

• Monitoring infrastructure via digital platforms for transparency.

Let’s Redefine the Classroom

The classroom should be a space that inspires learning, fosters creativity, and feels safe for every student — regardless of location or income level. It’s time we stop treating infrastructure as a background issue in education.

The stark difference between neglected public schools and well-equipped institutions like girls boarding schools in Dehradun isn’t just about privilege — it’s a call to action. Let’s raise the standard, not the exception.