A sealed two-storey building in Rafinagar, Govandi, which used to house a civic-run Hindi and Urdu-medium school, continues to stand adjacent to a row of classrooms that are fully functional. While some students who used to attend classes in the former structure have been shifted to a nearby Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation school at Shivaji Nagar, lessons are still taught in the rooms adjoining the sealed building, which comprises the MPS Rafinagar school.
Additionally, a gate frequently accessed by parents and students stands close to the sealed structure. When mid-day visited the building declared dangerous, with cracks visible in the wall of the structure, while support pillars pointed to deterioration and water seepage.
A container classroom set up on the premises of the civic-run Hindi and Urdu-medium school in Rafinagar, Govandi
The dangerous structure shares walls with the boys’ washroom and a classroom attended by Std V and VII students in separate sessions. However, school officials told mid-day that the washroom and classroom, along with a few adjacent rooms, had undergone structural and leakage-related repairs since December, and the use of these rooms resumed only around September this year. “The repairs led to the school being forced to conduct shorter sessions. This meant that our classes were wrapped up sooner than usual so that we could accommodate two standards, one after the other, in the same classroom. We chose this instead of losing out on school time completely,” said a school official.
Parents helpless
Classroom that are adjacent to the unsafe school building in Govandi. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
Due to financial circumstances, parents stated that they had no option other than to send their children to this school. “The dangerous building was emptied, but they continue to hold classes in the adjoining structure. My daughter has already been shifted to the Shivaji Nagar school, as her classes were once held in the building that was shut down. It is a bit difficult to send our children far away when there is a school right in front of our home. We know that it may be risky to send our children, specifically my son, who still continues to study in the premises of Rafinagar School. But what choice do we have?” said Ayesha Shah, a parent.
Authorities speak
When questioned, higher officials of the School Infrastructure Cell (SIC) confirmed that the building had been declared dangerous, but refrained from sharing any further information regarding why the rooms that share walls with this dangerous structure were not emptied yet and also about the demolition of the said dangerous structure. “We are not authorised to give any information directly. However, the said building is not certified as a C1 structure,” said a senior SIC official.
The boys’ washroom
A higher official from M East ward told mid-day, “As per my information, the building has been given a C1 notice and the structure has been sealed completely. However, I will look into the matter and ask the officials concerned to recheck if the classes are still being conducted next to this dangerous structure.”
Kids in containers
Anticipating the demolition of the rest of the building, the school has set up three containers on the premises. With multiple fans and lights installed, the containers are set to become the new classrooms for the students of MPS Rafinagar once the demolition starts, said school officials. Meanwhile, the staff is already enthusiastic about moving the students to the new containers, given the space crunch in classrooms. “We have already shared a letter with the ward (school department), asking for permission to start classes in the containers. In the meantime, if need be, we will start moving benches there, too,” said an official from the civic school.
