Issue of dearth of infrastructure to be addressed in phased manner, say officials
Srinagar, Dec 21 : Majority of the government educational institutions particularly up to middle classes in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) are without proper infrastructure for students.
According to wire service— the revelation comes at a time when the school education department is making tall claims of filling infrastructural gaps in all government schools across Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier this year, the school education department had claimed to put in place 100 percent seating arrangement for students up to higher secondary level. But the announcement remained confined to only papers.
“The ground situation in government primary and upper primary schools is very grim. The students don’t have benches to sit and they attend classes while sitting on floor,” an official told news agency. He said in some schools the students attend their classes under open sky given the dearth of classrooms for students.
Earlier in April, the school education department had started distribution of desks in high and higher secondary schools. However most of the educational institutions are yet to receive the desks so far.
An official said the desks were provided through Samagra directorate and all chief education officers were asked to submit their requirements for schools. “The department claimed that all high and higher secondary schools will be provided with desks for all students till June 2019. But most of the schools didn’t receive the infrastructure for students,” the official told news agency.
During previous years, the department made tall claims of providing adequate seating arrangement for students in class 8th but the schools are yet to receive those desks and benches from the government.
“During this year, the department proposed to government of India that classroom furniture be provided for all students from class 6th to 8th but the issue got shelved later for unknown reasons,” the official said.He said the dearth of infrastructure in schools can be filled only if government of India provides adequate funding.
“State government has never paid attention to such grave issues and has always remained dependent on grants received from Government of India,” the official said.
State project director Samagra Shiksha was not available for his comments. However, an official in the directorate of Samagra said the department is consolidating the details of schools which have are without classroom furniture for students
“The dearth of infrastructure will be filled in a phased manner. The target will be hopefully covered by this academic session,” the official said. (KNO)
