Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Over 20 Students Study in Toilet at Madhya Pradesh School
Twenty-two children in a village school were found studying inside a girls’ toilet.
Their old school building was unsafe, so it could not be used.
A new school building is being built, but it is not finished yet.
Teachers have also used a temple and other spaces for classes.
Officials said some children were moved into the toilet because the temple was very hot that day.
They agreed that using a toilet as a classroom was not acceptable.
Officials visited the school and prepared a report.
The children will move into the new school building when it is completed.
Twenty-two children at a government primary school in Tana village were found studying inside a newly built girls’ toilet.
The school’s old building was declared unsafe, while its replacement remains under construction.
Teachers have also been holding classes at the Bhilat Dev temple and other temporary locations.
Officials said moving children into the toilet was wrong, even though teachers cited heat inside the temple.
Education officials inspected the school, prepared a report, and said classes would continue at alternative sites until construction is completed.
- Who
- Twenty-two students, their teachers, local residents, and Madhya Pradesh education officials.
- What
- Students were found being taught in a newly built girls’ toilet because the school lacked a usable classroom.
- When
- The picture became public on September 12, 2026; officials said the old building had been unsafe for about two years.
- Where
- A government primary school in Tana village, in Dhar district’s Kukshi area, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The old school building was considered unsafe and the replacement building was still incomplete; officials said heat at the temple contributed to the temporary toilet arrangement.
Officials’ Explanation
Local Concern and Criticism
Why children entered the toilet
Officials’ Explanation
Officials said the temple was receiving direct sunlight and became too hot, so seven or eight children were temporarily moved to the toilet; they nevertheless said this should not have happened.
Local Concern and Criticism
Local resident Radheshyam Mujalda said the village lacks a proper school building and warned that there would be no classroom space if the toilet had to be used for its intended purpose.
Responsibility for the incident
Officials’ Explanation
Officials said they were investigating the viral image and reported that some children claimed two men brought them into the toilet, opened the door, and took pictures.
Local Concern and Criticism
The viral image prompted public attention to the broader problem of children studying in temporary spaces while construction of the new school remains incomplete.
- Students affected
- 22 children
- School location
- Tana village, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh
- Temporary classrooms
- Bhilat Dev temple and other available spaces
- Old building
- Declared unsafe and ordered to be removed about two years ago
- New building
- Under construction and not yet completed
- Officials involved
- Block Education Officer Heeralal Nigwal and BRC officer Vijay Kumar Shukla
- Investigation
- Officials inspected the school and prepared a report for senior officers