In a stark reminder of the challenges facing rural education in Bihar,Baksu Bigha Primary Schoolin Gaya district has been operating without a school building for the past28 years. Since 1998, children fromClasses 1 to 5have been studying on the bare ground inside a roadside temple complex along theGaya–Bodhgaya road, exposed to extreme heat, rain, dust and traffic hazards.
The school currently has94 enrolled students and five teachers, yet lacks even the most basic infrastructure—no classrooms, benches, blackboards, toilets or drinking water facilities within the school premises. Children sit on the ground under trees or in the open temple courtyard, shifting indoors only during rainfall. Drinking water is sourced from a hand pump inside the temple, while students are sent home when they need to use the toilet, disrupting classes and raising safety concerns.
Teachers have repeatedly appealed to authorities over the years, but say their complaints have gone unanswered. The school principal has questioned claims of improved governance and modern education, pointing out that even basic dignity and safety for students remain unaddressed.
Despite the harsh conditions, attendance remains steady, reflecting parents’ commitment to educating their children. However, the continued lack of action from officials has left nearly a hundred young students waiting for what should be fundamental—a proper school building.
As officials commute daily on the same road, the condition of this school remains unchanged, raising serious questions about accountability and the state of primary education infrastructure in rural Bihar.
