'When it rains, we teach on the playground': Meghalaya school crumbles as authorities stay silent

In a troubling reflection of the state of rural education infrastructure, the Dambo Reserve Upgraded SSA UP School in East Garo Hills (EGH), Meghalaya, is literally falling apart — forcing students and teachers to shift their classes to the playground whenever it rains.

 The plight of the school recently gained attention after videos of its dilapidated condition went viral, prompting concern from Tura MP Saleng Sangma.

The school, located about 6 km from Rongjeng village and a further 1 km off the Mangsang–Adokgre road, is home to multiple sections — a government LP school, the SSA UP section (Classes VI–VIII), and a privately supported secondary section. But the heart of the problem lies in the UP section: 56 students, 4 teachers, and 3 rooms barely fit for human use.

The most shocking condition is that of the teachers’ room, which also functions as a kitchen. Rainwater pours in through cracks in the roof and a gaping vent, soaking plaster, textbooks, and desktops alike. “Clumps of plaster keep falling on us. We keep shifting the books just to keep them from getting ruined,” said headmaster Sengphan K Marak.

All three classrooms are in various stages of decay. Class VI’s room, the "best" of the lot, shows clear water damage, algae-covered walls, and wet floors. Class VII's room is worse, and Class VIII’s is virtually unsafe — its support beams are cracked, water seeps freely through the roof, and the walls peel extensively. Students often sit outside, waiting for the classrooms to dry or hoping to avoid injury.

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Despite writing to authorities annually via UDISE and direct complaints to the local MLA, BDO, DC, and the Education Department, the school has received no response or aid. Teachers have even resorted to holding classes in the open ground adjacent to the school to avoid the risk of collapsing ceilings or electric hazards from water exposure.

“What’s heartbreaking is the dedication of these teachers, who despite the dangers, are committed to educating our children,” said a concerned parent. “But it shouldn’t take a tragedy for the government to act.”

Adding insult to injury, the school’s toilet infrastructure is no better. Of the three toilets built under various schemes, two are already unusable. One recently installed unit lost its door within weeks of completion. And then there’s the baffling construction of a 13-foot-high water tank with no ladder, no plumbing, and no way to clean or access it — rendering it completely nonfunctional.

MP Promises Action, But Will It Be Enough?- After the viral videos surfaced, MP Saleng Sangma promised support. But with the monsoon looming and classrooms already turning into ponds, time is running out. The students and teachers of Dambo Reserve UP School are not just asking for help — they are begging for their right to safe, dignified education.