Sambalpur’s Hikpali School Struggles With Only Three Classrooms for 110 Students
Hikpali School in Sambalpur has only three classrooms for 110 students, causing overcrowding and rainy‑season leaks.
Hikpali Government Upper Primary School in Sambalpur’s Naktideul block has only three classrooms for its nine sections, forcing students to share spaces and conduct office work in the same rooms.
Why does Hikpali School have only three classrooms?
Established in 1952, the school currently serves around 110 students ranging from Shishu Vatika to Class 8. Despite this enrollment, the facility reportedly provides only three classrooms to accommodate nine different classes. As a result, students are compelled to move between the limited rooms throughout the day, and the school’s administrative work is also carried out within the same instructional spaces. The scarcity of rooms is described in the report as a longstanding issue that has persisted since the school’s inception, with no additional classrooms added over the decades to keep pace with student numbers.
What challenges do students face during the rainy season?
During the rainy season, the classroom environment becomes hazardous and lessons are disrupted. The report notes that plaster from the classroom ceiling has reportedly started falling, and rainwater leaks into the rooms, creating unsafe conditions for both learners and staff. Students continue their studies amid concerns over the structural condition of the building, with the deteriorating infrastructure raising safety worries. The combination of falling plaster and water intrusion forces teachers and pupils to adapt their routines, often shifting activities to drier corners of the rooms or postponing certain lessons until conditions improve.
What does the situation reveal about rural Odisha school infrastructure?
The shortage at Hikpali underscores the broader challenges faced by schools throughout rural Odisha that grapple with inadequate infrastructure and chronic classroom shortages. The situation highlights how many educational institutions in the region operate with insufficient physical resources, affecting both teaching effectiveness and student safety. By pointing to Hikpali’s circumstances, the report situates the school’s plight within a wider pattern of under‑investment in school buildings across Odisha’s rural blocks, emphasizing the need for improved facilities to ensure a conducive learning environment.
How many students attend Hikpali Government Upper Primary School?
Around 110 students attend the school, ranging from Shishu Vatika to Class 8.
How many classrooms does Hikpali Government Upper Primary School have?
The school has only three classrooms for its nine sections.
What classes are taught at Hikpali Government Upper Primary School?
The school teaches students from Shishu Vatika up to Class 8.
What problems occur at the school during the rainy season?
Plaster from the classroom ceiling reportedly falls and rainwater leaks into the rooms, making studying difficult and raising safety concerns.
Where is Hikpali Government Upper Primary School located?
The school is located in the Naktideul block of Sambalpur district.
When was Hikpali Government Upper Primary School established?
The school was established in 1952.
What does the situation at Hikpali School highlight about schools in rural Odisha?
It highlights the challenges faced by schools across rural Odisha dealing with inadequate infrastructure and classroom shortages.
Who reported the issue about Hikpali School’s classroom shortage?
The issue was reported by Kanak News in a ground report dated September 2, 2026.
What work is conducted in the same spaces as classrooms at Hikpali School?
School office work is also conducted in the same limited rooms used for teaching.
Debraj Meher
District Correspondent, Sambalpur
Debraj Meher reports on Sambalpur district's civic affairs, the Hirakud dam command area, and the region's handloom economy. He has been the Mirror's Sambalpur correspondent since 2021.
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