Rural areas reflect neglect, apathy in education sector
Srinagar: Negating the tall claims of school education department to rejuvenate the education sector in the state, the educational institutions in rural districts continue to remain the victims of official neglect.
Over the past many years, the Government of India (GoI) is pumping huge amount of money for the infrastructural upgradation of the schools, under various centrally sponsored schemes like erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhiyamak Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) however, the investment seems to have gone down the drain as depicted by the poor infrastructural standards in schools.
In most of the rural areas, the government has failed to provide basic infrastructure in schools where the students are crammed in congested, shabby and unsafe ‘four walls’ due to the non availability of the proper accommodations.
The government run educational institutions in rural Kashmir are in dismal state despite having enormous response from the populace in terms of enrollment.
Government Middle School Nagnari in Zone Boniyar of Baramulla district is a glaring example to portray poor state of affairs of rural education.
The buildings of this school have developed cracks in past years but await renovation from the government.
The school is constructed adjacent to the graveyard where from water flows towards the existing school building rendering it unsafe for students.
Government Middle School Pachar is situated in one of the villages of Chandoosa area of Baramulla district.
The school has two buildings including one damaged which has been declared unsafe by the concerned authorities.
The school has no facets to be called as educational institution. Students from Kindergarten to class 8th are chocked in two rooms. The school has no other facilities for students as well, insiders said.
The ground situation of the schools in rural areas depicts a grim picture for which department must wake up at it’s earliest to safeguard the student interest, an official of the education department said.
Over the past two years, the JK government has been making tall claims of revolutionizing the education sector, however, the claims fall flat given the ailing situation of rural education in Kashmir.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said the department has got approval from MHRD to auction damaged buildings and new structures will be constructed wherever required.
“We have funds available with the department which will be utilized to provide adequate accommodation for the students,” Itoo added.
KV Correspondent
