Bengal school turns into weekly market after teacher shortage forces shutdown

Valyagram Junior High School in West Bengal has been closed for more than two years due to a shortage of teachers, and the premises are now being used to host a weekly market. The market is held every Tuesday, with vendors selling various goods such as vegetables, fish, spices, clothes, and fried snacks inside the school's building and courtyard. The school, which opened in the 2015-2016 academic year, initially began with two guest teachers but soon faced a shortage of regular teachers, leading to its eventual closure.

Prior to its closure, the school had over 150 students from grades five to eight, all of whom were forced to transfer to schools located further away. The building, a two-story structure, has suffered significant deterioration during its prolonged shutdown. Benches, chairs, and tables have been damaged, and classroom doors and windows have collapsed. The lack of upkeep has left classrooms in poor condition, with some classrooms remaining open due to missing doors. The school inspector, Surajit Mal, confirmed that the school remains closed due to the absence of teachers and stated that the institution would resume operations once teachers are recruited. He also mentioned that the situation regarding the market operating within the school would be investigated.

The villagers, who have organized the market, explain that the market was initially held on the village roads but was moved to the school premises after the closure of the school. Trinamool Panchayat member Kamrul Islam stated that during the COVID-19 lockdown, the market had been temporarily shifted to the main road. Due to the inconvenience caused by transportation issues, the market was later relocated to the school. Islam emphasized that the market would be moved if the school were to reopen. Vendors, many of whom set up shop in the school premises, claim they were permitted to use the space for the market. One vendor, Debabrata Samanta, explained, "We were told to set up here, so we are doing business. The school is not operating anyway."

This situation has also sparked political debate. BJP Katwa organizational president Gopal Chattopadhyay criticized the state government, saying, "The education system in Bengal is falling apart due to a lack of planning. This government is not interested in educating the people of Bengal." The political party has highlighted the broader issue of teacher recruitment and the state's education system.

At the same time, hundreds of aspiring teachers have been protesting over the alleged corruption in the recruitment process, further exacerbating the concerns regarding the closure of schools. The Valyagram Junior High School remains locked, and there is no official timeline for when teacher recruitment will take place. Residents have urged the government to expedite the process to reopen the school for the benefit of local children. The state education department has yet to comment on the situation.