Risk: DSEK fails to conduct safety audit of school buildings (page 1 anchor)
Srinagar: The much hyped safety audit of the government owned school buildings is yet to started despite the move being announced almost a year back.
The safety audit of the school buildings was ordered in wake of the concerns expressed over the students taking classes in unsafe buildings including those buildings which have been taken on rent by the Directorate of School education.
A circular was issued last year by the then Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) wherein all the Chief Education Officers (CEO), zonal education officers (ZEOs), higher secondary school principals and headmasters were directed to get the safety audit of school buildings done within 45 days.
“The safety audit was supposed to be completed within one and a half month but more than a year has passed but the report is yet to be submitted to the department. No official started the safety audit in their respective jurisdiction and zones,” an official said.
Pertinently, a huge number of schools in the state are housed mostly in government owned buildings but safety audit of these school buildings has not been conducted since they were made functional for students.
“The safety of the students is paramount and proceeds to every other thing. Ironically, the department is not concerned about it,” the official said.
“Keeping in view the safety of the students and also property of the education department it is enjoined up on all CEOs Principals, Headmasters and ZEOs to get the school safety audit done in a time bound manner,” reads the circular which was issued last year.
The issue about safety of the school buildings was raised at a time when most of the school buildings are in shabby conditions and without any safety measures being put in place, putting the lives of students as risk.
As per official figures there are at least 24000 government schools and majority of the state-run schools are in a pathetic state. Almost 50 percent of all government schools are in a semi-dilapidated state.
Pertinently, a survey of civil works executed under erstwhile centrally sponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme in 2013 had revealed that there was no provision of earthquake resistant structures in school building design in Kashmir region.
The survey had revealed that no provision and facility of material testing was available in JK which could be used before the construction of school buildings in the state.
“Government has put lives of thousands of students at risk as the buildings constructed in J&K state, under SSA scheme are without provisions of earthquake resistant structures,” an official said.
Notably, DSEK Muhammad Younis Malik was not available for his comments.
KV Correspondent
