For the past two days, the topic has been about crumbling infrastructure at schools. On Thursday, a ceiling fan collapsed at a school in Poriem, injuring one student. On Friday, a false ceiling collapsed at a government school in Sanguem, injuring five students. Fortunately, there were no major injuries, even as affected students were rushed to respective hospitals. The point of concern is that such incidents could be catastrophic and endanger the lives of students.
On Friday, another false ceiling at the Clinical Research Unit (Unani) in Ribandar also caved in. While the State is grappling with unsafe and dilapidated structures with concrete portions falling off from age-old buildings, infrastructure failures at schools are simply not acceptable by any reasoning because a temple of learning cannot be unsafe. These incidents are not isolated mishaps; they are symptomatic of a deeper malaise threatening the safety and well-being of students across the State, and highlight gross lapses in safety protocols and quality control in school infrastructure maintenance.
In both cases, safety seems to be taken for granted. In the case of the Sanguem school, a year-old complaint about structural issues—exacerbated by disturbances from monkeys— is not taken to its logical end. The proposal for repairs remains on hold, caught in bureaucratic red tape, and the file is reportedly with the accounts department, awaiting approval. This is unfortunate.
The third element of responsibility comes from the Sanguem school management. Yes, the complaint was raised to the Education Department, which, in turn, made a proposal to the PWD. The question is, why did the school management expose students to such danger when it was well aware of the situation, since one part of the overhead ceiling had already deteriorated? In a scenario where monkeys are playing havoc over the false ceiling, there was an obvious threat, and it would we wise to hold extra-curricular activities at an alternative area.
These instances point to a wider systemic failure. Building structures are essential, but equally important is to renovate the old ones. When a ceiling fan falls or a false ceiling collapses, it indicates lapses in quality control, shoddy workmanship, or failure of internal inspections. Such failures are criminal when they endanger lives and should invite stern accountability.
While the State makes a giant leap into the National Education Policy framework, introducing newer concepts of learning, it is dragging its feet on basic infrastructure. As of September 2025, 20 primary schools in the Sattari taluka were reported to be in need of urgent repairs. Elsewhere, around 35 primary and higher secondary government schools are reported to be in dilapidated condition. The government has indicated that 90 per cent of the renovation work on schools has been completed, while stating that the balance 10 per cent will be completed soon.
The point here is not only about renovation, but also about maintenance. An urgent, comprehensive structural audit of all government school buildings across the State is imperative. This audit should assess the integrity of ceilings, electrical wiring, and other critical infrastructure components. Contractors responsible for shoddy work must be held liable and face legal action. The safety and well-being of students depend on the quality and durability of the spaces where they learn, grow, and develop.
The government cannot afford to treat infrastructure maintenance as an afterthought. A relentless focus on safety is essential to protect our students and uphold the sanctity of educational spaces. Anything less is a betrayal of the trust placed in public institutions to safeguard the future of our children.
