Sasaram: The education department’s proposed merger of Rupibandh Primary School with other schools in Rohtas district has triggered protests from parents, who fear the move could jeopardise their children’s access to education and safety. The school, which caters to Classes I to V, has 82 students studying in a single 20×15-foot room with just one blackboard, reflecting a severe shortage of basic infrastructure.Established in 1996 in Chitauli panchayat of Kochas block, the school has four teachers, including headmaster Shashank Kumar Tiwary, and a cook. The lone classroom also doubles as the headmaster’s office and storage space for midday meal supplies, utensils and other materials. The school also lacks a proper urinal, playground and drinking water facilities.Parents have opposed the proposed merger with other schools, arguing that shifting students elsewhere would not address the underlying infrastructure problem.According to the parents, one of the proposed alternative schools, Chitaini Primary School, is around 6km away, while Middle School at Bardhauti Kala is approximately 1.5km from Rupibandh. However, children would have to cross a busy national highway to reach the nearer school, which parents said posed an accident risk. They said similar concerns existed over access to the other proposed school.The parents have also lodged a complaint with the headmaster, warning that they would not send their children to school if the merger goes ahead. They said the authorities should improve the existing school’s infrastructure instead of imposing additional hardships on students from disadvantaged families.According to Shashank Kumar Tiwary, headmaster of Rupibandh Primary School, the state govt last year sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the construction of additional classrooms at the school, but work could not begin because of the non-availability of land. The unresolved land issue has left students studying in cramped and inadequate conditions. Tiwary said a meeting of the School Education Committee would be called soon to discuss the proposed merger.Meanwhile, DPO (Establishment) Rajanish Upadhyay said reports had been sought from the headmaster and the assistant block education officer on the proposed merger to ensure the smooth conduct of teaching activities.However, parents maintained that any decision should take into account the distance to alternative schools, road safety risks and the urgent need for adequate classrooms.chamaria_alokad@yahoo.co.in