Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 26: National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has painted gloomy picture about implementation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme in Jammu and Kashmir and pointed out several shortcomings, which are creating hurdles in meeting the objective of this programme.
This scheme was launched by the Union Government in August 2004 to ensure access and quality education for girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas. The scheme is being implemented in educationally backward blocks of the country where the female rural literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is above the national average.
Keeping the importance of the scheme in view, the erstwhile Planning Commission (presently NITI Aayog) found it appropriate to get evaluation study of its implementation conducted to ascertain if KGBV has been able to provide access to the quality education to the girls from SC, ST and minority communities.
In the evaluation report submitted to NITI Aayog early this month, gloomy picture about implementation of this scheme in Jammu and Kashmir has been painted and it has been mentioned that shortcomings if not removed, would continue to deprive the benefit of the scheme to the intended population.
As far as spending of funds under the scheme is concerned, the same was not found up to the satisfaction by the evaluation team in the test checked areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the same has been attributed mainly to low strength of children.
Referring to the adequacy of teachers in the KGBVs in Jammu and Kashmir, the evaluation report said, “in majority of the KGBVs, the number of teachers is not adequate. The non-availability of subject teachers is depriving the students of the opportunity to get knowledge about their favourite subjects”, adding “none of the students in KGBVs is happy with the strength of teachers engaged for providing them education”.
During the evaluation study, it has come to the fore that teachers are using available Teaching Learning Material (TLM) very rarely and cited the shortage of TLM as the main reason for not using it very often. This is notwithstanding the fact that sufficient funds are released for Teaching Learning Material every year under the scheme.
At a time when much thrust is being laid on use of computers in the educational institutions for the benefits of the students, none of the KGBV in Jammu and Kashmir has computers. Similarly, the students in KGBVs are also being deprived of facility of library. “Despite being aware of the fact that children with special needs are also studying in the KGBVs, there is no focus on preparation of Individualized Education Plan (IEP)”, the evaluation study said.
What to talk of children even the teachers engaged in the KGBVs are not happy on various aspects but they are not coming forward to pin-point the shortcomings because of varied reasons. During the evaluation study, the feedback of teachers on satisfaction on quantum of salary was found completely un-satisfactory.
It is pertinent to mention here that in Jammu and Kashmir, the Scheme is being implemented in 97 Educationally Backward Blocks and a total of 99 KGBVs have been sanctioned for the State. On an average there are 56 students per KGBV.
Not only on the implementation aspect, the concerned authorities of Jammu and Kashmir have also failed on removing the hurdles in construction of own buildings of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas as fate of majority of them is hanging in balance for want of additional funds. In the absence of own buildings, these KGBVs are being operated from rented accommodation, which is also one of the reasons for non-availability of adequate resources for the students.
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