Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 23: Contrary to the lofty claims of the Government, large number of schools continues to be the victim of official apathy as neither proper and safe infrastructure nor adequate teaching staff has been provided to them for the past quite long time. This sordid state of affairs in the schools has not only been affecting the pass percentage but also jeopardizing the careers of the students besides putting a big question mark on the implementation of various Centrally-sponsored schemes in the State.
Interestingly, despite being aware of all the shortcomings in the department no concrete and time-bound step has so far been taken to overcome the same and this clearly indicates that those at the helm of affairs only believes in making statements just to indicate that they have intellectual bent of mind.
The situation vis-à-vis schools operating in rented accommodation across the State can be gauged from the fact that in Jammu district only, 107 Primary, Middle and High Schools lack own accommodation and School Education Department is paying rent of nearly Rs 5 lakh per month. Majority of these schools fall under the Bhalwal, Chowki Choura, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, Miran Sahib, Marh and Satwari Zones.
However, the Department doesn’t have any concrete proposal or plan to provide accommodation to these schools and the Chief Education Officer, Jammu states: “The accommodation is being provided in phased manner that too subject to availability of funds”. The reply of CEO clearly indicates that nobody knows when these schools would get their own accommodation.
What to talk of providing accommodation, the School Education Department has even failed to ensure safe classrooms to the students in large number of other schools. Nearly 100 schools of Jammu district have been functioning in unsafe buildings thereby risking the lives of students. A total of 170 class-rooms and blocks in these schools have been found completely unsafe but still students are made to sit in there.
The class-rooms of four schools in Jammu Zone, 15 schools in Jourian Zone, 12 in Bhalwal Zone, 11 in Gandhi Nagar Zone, 7 in Khour Zone, 8 in Dansal Zone, 9 in Satwari Zone and 13 in Miran Sahib Zone are unsafe. Instead of making class-rooms safe by carrying out necessary works, the School Education Department says: “The Zonal Education Officers have taken the matter of declaring school buildings/classrooms unsafe with Public Works Department/Rural Development Department. After receiving unsafe certificate, the construction of school buildings/classrooms will be taken up in phased manner”.
As against nearly 100 schools with 170 unsafe class rooms, the School Education Department has decided to take up construction work only in four schools having 13 class-rooms during the next financial year.
The dismal scenario vis-à-vis infrastructure is notwithstanding the fact that Central Government has launched Rashtriya Madhamik Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, which if implemented in proper perspective has the potential to transform the entire system of education. The funds under RMSA are provided for staff creation, creation and strengthening of infrastructure and for other developmental activities.
The miserable condition of school education sector doesn’t end at the lack of infrastructure or inadequate infrastructure as large number of schools are facing acute deficiency of teaching staff. According to the official figures, 121 posts of Principals and equivalent category, 3211 posts of lecturers, 633 posts of Headmasters, 3528 posts of Masters and 7472 posts of teachers have been lying vacant across the State.
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