In the quiet, rural expanse of Rajpura, a wave of optimism is sweeping through the local communities, thanks to a significant judicial intervention. Nisha and Sania, two Class XII students from a senior secondary school, embody the hope and joy now felt by many in their situation. For years, these young scholars, like their peers, faced the daunting challenge of traveling 14 kilometers each day just to reach their school.
The journey to education for students from the villages of Kheri Gandian, Khandoli, Bhadak, Jakhran, Gajipur, Khanpur Gandian, Badholi Gujjran, Dhendsa, and other neighboring areas has been arduous. Both boys and girls have had to navigate 3 kilometers of treacherous, broken roads to reach a highway where they could find transport. The journey does not end there; upon reaching Rajpura, students had to cover an additional kilometer on foot to reach their school, compounding the challenge.
This rigorous routine has contributed to a troubling increase in dropout rates within these communities. Many families, primarily small-scale farmers and laborers, rely on government schools for their children’s education, but the hazardous journey has made school attendance increasingly untenable.
A glimmer of change emerged when the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo motu cognisance of a report by The Tribune, which spotlighted the harsh realities faced by students from over ten villages along the Patiala-Rajpura highway. The court’s intervention, prompted by concerns over unsafe travel conditions and unaffordable transportation, has set the stage for much-needed reform.
Harbilas Singh, sarpanch of Kheri Gandian, expressed profound relief, stating, “We had given up hope that the fate of these children would ever change. We are grateful to the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court for asking the government to act.” Singh further revealed that Education Department officials had recently visited the villages and assured them of plans to upgrade the local high school to a senior secondary institution. A resolution advocating for this upgrade, signed by the panchayats of six villages, has already been submitted to the department.
The impact of this potential upgrade is already being felt. Sumanpreet Kaur, a Class X student from Khanpur village, is hopeful. “The school headmaster has told us that our school may soon be upgraded. Many girls from my village had to abandon their studies. I do not want to leave my education midway. My parents were hesitant to send me to the Government Senior Secondary School in Rajpura due to the distance,” she shares with a hopeful smile. Kaur dreams of one day becoming a high-ranking government official, and the prospect of a nearby senior secondary school brings her closer to realizing that ambition.
This anticipated development marks a pivotal moment for students in these rural areas. The possibility of a local senior secondary school not only promises to ease the physical burden of their daily commute but also represents a significant stride towards educational equity for all.
