Srinagar, Feb 20: Each morning on Dal Lake begins not with the rush of traffic or the clang of school bells, but with the soft splash of oars slicing through water. For dozens of children living deep inside the lake’s interiors, the journey to education is made by boat, not by road. Tucked away in Kand Mohalla, the Government Middle School continues to function from a rented building, its narrow rooms holding ambitions far larger than the walls that contain them. The school caters to nearly 50 students from interior hamlets that are accessible only by water. For these children, schooling is inseparable from the lake itself. The building they attend classes in was never designed to be a school. With only a handful of small rooms, it struggles to accommodate students, teachers, and basic learning activities. Yet, every day, lessons unfold amid floating gardens, slender canals and an atmosphere shaped equally by natural beauty and uncertainty. “Our challenge is not the willingness to teach or learn, but the lack of space,” said Aashiq Hussain, a teacher at the school. His words capture a problem that has persisted for years. While teachers and students show commitment, the absence of proper infrastructure continues to limit what the school can offer. For students, the school day begins with a boat ride often shared with siblings or parents through winding waterways. In winter, parts of the lake partially freeze, turning the commute into a test of endurance. During the rains, the journey becomes riskier, with strong winds and rising water levels. Despite these hardships, attendance remains steady, reflecting the value families place on education, even under difficult conditions. Ronak Zehra, a Class 8 student, carries dreams as wide as the lake surrounding her. Like many children her age, she hopes to balance studies with sports. But the absence of a playground leaves little room for such aspirations. “We don’t have much space to play here,” she says softly. “So we adjust.” Her quiet acceptance speaks volumes about how children here learn to compromise early in life. Parents in the area echo similar concerns. Ronak’s father voices a sentiment shared by many families living in Dal Lake’s interiors. “We are not asking for luxury,” he says. “Just space a safe, permanent school for our children.” For them, a stable school building is not a demand for excess, but a plea for dignity and security in their children’s education. The rented status of the school building has emerged as a major constraint. Without ownership or a permanent campus, the school cannot expand classrooms, add laboratories, or create even the most basic facilities. Simple improvements such as better seating, storage, or activity areas remain out of reach because the structure does not belong to the education department. Highlighting the urgency of infrastructure development, Head of Institution Riaz Ahmed said the lack of proper facilities directly affects learning outcomes. “Infrastructure is not an extra for us, it is a necessity,” he said. “When a school runs with limited space, learning suffers despite the best efforts of teachers.” His remarks underline how physical limitations can undermine academic progress, no matter how dedicated the staff may be. Teachers often attempt to bridge these gaps through personal effort. Many stay back after school hours to prepare charts, teaching aids and learning material, trying to make the cramped classrooms more engaging. “The least we can do is make the classroom feel like it belongs to the children,” said Syed Noor Uddin, a teacher from the Nishat zone. Such efforts, however, can only go so far in the absence of adequate infrastructure. Education officials have acknowledged the challenges faced by island schools functioning within Dal Lake. A senior official said proposals related to infrastructure improvement are under consideration, but pointed to financial and logistical constraints that slow down progress in such unique geographical settings. Until concrete action is taken, the island school continues to function on determination rather than design. As the final bell rings each day, children step back into their boats, laughter echoing across the water as they head home.