Agra: The doubled-storeyed basic education school building in Ashok Nagar locality here has been virtually taken over by the office of the ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ since 2000. The school itself is run from just three rooms on the first floor. The ground floor has been taken over by the office of the ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ and another office of the BSA is also functioning from the building.Students from class I to VII are forced attend class in two congested rooms while the third room is not in use. An LPG cylinder is also kept in one of the classrooms.According to official sources, the school was established in 1956 and since then, both primary and upper primary schools have been functioning in the building. It is the oldest school in the locality and had at one time boasted of a good student strength. At that time, it comprised more than seven rooms. Now, the school has just 80 students.According to district general secretary of Uttar Pradeshiya Prathamik Shikshak Sangh Brajesh Dixit, the office of the ‘Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan’ has been functioning from the premises ever since the scheme was launched by the central government in 2000.He said earlier the building housed an office of the district primary education programme (DPEP) where textbooks and other educational material were stored.Poonam Pundhir, head teacher at the primary school, said around 65 students have to study in a small classroom. According to head teacher of the Junior High School Asha Rani Srivastav, around 16 students are enrolled in the upper primary school, which also functions from the building.Basic shiskha adhikari Archana Gupta said she is unaware about the present situation of the school building but would look into the matter.

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