Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 23: A total 124 Government Schools in Srinagar and Jammu cities are functioning with zero students roll.
These startling revelations were made by the Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar in the Upper House of the J&K Legislature today. Interestingly, many teachers have been placed in these schools in large number and they are just getting wages for no work but the students are nil in these schools.
Mr Akhtar while replying to the question of NC Member, Dr Shehnaz Ganai disclosed that here are 50 schools with zero per cent students in Jammu while in Srinagar (Kashmir), 74 schools have zero per cent students. He said that there is need to improve the system and send such teachers in the areas where their services are much needed.
Dr Ganai was seeking details from the Government on recruitment of teachers in schools having less number of the faculty as compared to the students vis-à-vis the schools with more teachers than the students.
She claimed the figures are very alarming and in most of the schools, there are only teachers but not even a single student attending the classes.
“The fast track recruitment is in progress and we are rationalizing the process,” the minister further replied.
On a reply regarding district-wise details of the up-gradation of Primary, Middle and High Schools in the State during the last two years, Mr Akhtar said, “During the last two years, 27 schools have been upgraded from Primary to Upper Primary level under SSA and classes in all these have started.”
The Minister said that in the current year, 40 schools have been upgraded but classes are yet to start. The criteria adopted for upgradation, is as per the SSA norms. He further said under RMSA, while there has been no upgradation in last two years, in 2014-15, 110 schools have been upgraded from Middle schools to High schools but classes have not been made functional.
He said 800 schools (468 Middle schools and 332 High schools) have been upgraded under State plan without an approval and concurrence from the Planning and Finance Departments for creation of 5720 number of posts with financial implication of Rs 243.8 crore per annum.
The minister further disclosed that at present there are 95 Government Degree Colleges functional in the State, out of which 23 were sanctioned during the last five years. The department intends to equip these colleges with necessary infrastructure. The Government has also framed a committee to look into the feasibility parameters for the purpose of setting up new colleges.