G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 18: Making mockery of Right to Education Act, which guarantees to provide school education at door steps, the officials of department of School Education have not been shifting the Government Primary School (GPS), Lower Dhounthly, Jammu in its newly constructed building which was co-located in Government Middle School, Kachi Chhawni due to non availability of sufficient accommodation since 2014.
Source informed Early Times that however, the residents of the Lower Dhounthly and even the Village Education Committee (VEC) has repeatedly sent representations to the officials of school for shifting the GPS at new constructed building but department has not been paying any heed to the requests.
On the name of rationalization of schools several schools with sparse students were clubbed by incumbent Education Minister, Naem Akther during previous ten months' rule and this school was also clubbed.
"The previous government of PDP-BJP, owing to fewer enrollments in the schools, had clubbed hundred of schools with adjoining schools, while the GPS, Lower Dhounthly has sufficient enrollments (more than 20 students) despite this fact, department still hesitates to shift the school in newly constructed building at Lower Dhounthly since last one years", said Surinder Kumar Gupta, member of VEC. Another committee member, Virender Katoch said, “When we have no sufficient accommodation in village, I have no other option to send kids in co-located school but when department had completed the construction of primary school building then why we put their kids live at risk, cover a considerable distance by crossing the busy road”.
It is not justifiable, not fulfill the norms entitled in the Right to education act.
"If department had clubbed the school into GMS, Kachi Chhawni then why they completed the building, and has been drained the public money for its construction. Basically, it exposing the lack of coordination among the officials of education department", said Santhosh Kumari who is a one of member among six members committee of the VEC at Lower Dounthly. Former Mayor of JMC, Narendr Singh said that the callous approach of the department could be gauged from this fact that he along with six members committee and parents of the students had apprised to the concerned ZEO but body has been heed to this matter so far.
When contacted to Chief Education Officer, Jammu-JK Sudan said that under the clubbed policy, they had clubbed that school with the GMS, Kachi Chhawni.
On being asked that if government had clubbed the school into GMC, Kachi Chhawni then why they completed the said building, she said, "how to use the building, it depends upon government not on me", he said.
Zonal Education Officer, Nirmla Raina said that it was not hard and fast rule that clubbed school not changed into independent school. "On April, 22 I will visit at spot, if building fulfills the necessary requirements like electricity, toilet, water we will shift the school." |
