KV Correspondent

70 percent govt schools lack basic infrastructure, says report

70 percent govt schools lack basic infrastructure, says report
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Srinagar: Puncturing the tall claims of the state government to take education sector to new heights, as many as 17,167 educational institutions in J&K state are without boundary walls-posing a threat to the school going children. Moreover 17,112 government schools are without playgrounds as well.
As per the officials, the schools are awaiting construction of boundary walls due to paucity of funds.
“The department had decided to construct the boundary walls of schools subject to the availability of the funds. The walls will be constructed first in girls’ schools followed by Primary and middle schools,” reads an official document.
Pertinently, there are over 23000 government schools established in the J&K state out of which almost 70 percent are without basic facilities like drinking water, toilet facilities and electricity.
For instance, around 121 government primary and upper primary schools are without fencing in Langate constituency.
As per the official figures, almost 50 percent of government buildings are in semi dilapidated conditions posing a threat to the students enrolled in these institutions.
The figures have exposed the “lethargic” approach of the government towards providing proper accommodation and basic facilities to school going children.
An official said most of the schools lack basic facilities of toilet, drinking water and benches for students due to which parents prefer to admit their wards in private schools even if they are located at distant places.
“Parents send their wards to private schools because the government schools don’t have proper facilities,” the official said, adding that the lack of basic amenities in schools is the basic reason for decreasing enrollment of schools across the state.
The schools are without basic facilities despite the government making tall claims of taking education sector to new heights. The government has from time to time claimed to improve the academic and infrastructural standards in government schools. But on ground the claims get punctured and expose the poor performance of the department.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo meanwhile said they have projected these issues with the department and demanded release of funds as well.
“But the funds released from the department are not sufficient to cater to all the schools in one go,” he said. He said most of the schools need major repairs for which the directorate has projected the detailed project reports.
“All the issues will be addressed but in a phased manner,” he said.


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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