Shillong: Students in Jeanagre village attend class inside a kitchen shed. The structure serves as the only classroom for six different sections. It is a grim reality for South Garo Hills. Most schools in the Chokpot block suffer from missing walls, roofs, or doors. The Jeanagre Non-Government LP School sits 50 kilometers from both Baghmara and Tura. It has operated for over two decades despite lacking basic facilities.
A single teacher manages the entire school. "I teach all the children from the village in the kitchen shed. We requested the Education Department multiple times to sanction a school building, but the non-government tag comes in the way of receiving funds," the teacher explained. Villagers paid to enlarge the shed after the state provided only a basic kitchen unit. Now, the limited space prevents any growth in enrollment.
The village contains 27 households and 137 residents. Parents avoid sending their kids to a better school located 5 kilometers away due to the distance. The local MLA has ignored repeated requests for help. Jish Sangma, president of the Chokpot GSU unit, noted the urgent need for action. He stated, "We cannot deny that the school is providing basic education for the Jeanagre village children. We just hope that our local legislator or the Education Department comes forward to improve the condition of the school." The institution requires another teacher to maintain any standard of quality.
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