UP schoolchildren study on mats despite funds for furniture, officials promise desks

Students at a government primary school in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal were made to sit on mats without desks or chairs. The district administration says furniture should reach remaining schools within two months.UP schoolchildren study on mats despite funds for furniture, officials promise desksSambhal,Oct 23, 2026 10:06 ISTChildren at a government primary school in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district were found studying while sitting on mats, with no desks to keep their books, despite funds being allocated to improve furniture facilities in schools.The situation came to light when an Aaj Tak team visited the primary school in Makhdumpur village, in Sambhal block, and spoke to students about the seating arrangements available to them.When asked where they sat during lessons, several children said they studied on mats along with their classmates. Asked whether they had desks to keep their books or chairs to sit on, the students said they had not been provided with either.Faizan, a student at the school, said he attended a government school but had to sit on a mat to study. Another student, Bajiya, who is in Class 5, similarly explained that she and the other children sat on mats during lessons. Ajmain, another student, confirmed that the school provided mats for seating. When asked about tables and chairs, the student replied in the negative. Shami, a Class 2 student, and another student, Sohail, also said they sat on mats.The students’ accounts emphasised the gap between plans to improve school infrastructure and the facilities available to children in the classroom. Responding to the issue, Sambhal District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal said furniture had already been supplied to around half of the more than 1,200 schools in the district. The remaining schools were expected to receive furniture within the next two months.He added that a proposal had been submitted to the state government and had received in-principle approval. The administration expected the provision of furniture to address the difficulties students faced over seating arrangements.- Ends