Early Times Report
jammu, July 16: On Monday, J&K's Education department didn't leave a stone unturned to beat the trumpet of quality education in the state during the country-wide video-conference chaired by Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar for the Education sector under "Aspirational Districts Programme".
However, the startling facts on ground continue to paint a grim picture of the education sector in the state, with government-run schools facing paucity of infrastructure necessary for the quality education.
As per government's own facts and figures, in the government schools of Jammu region alone, there are hundreds of schools which are devoid of libraries and laboratories while there are 19,273 schools wherein toilet facility, drinking water, government building or compound walling is missing.
Such figures while unmasking the tall claims of the authorities concerned over ensuring betterment in state's education sector have once again proved how Jammu schools are being neglected and forgotten. Children in these schools are being denied the quality education, hence bellying the claims of advanced system of learning and teaching.
Furthermore, Jammu region has 762 schools without the library facility available for children. At a time when the department concerned claims of ensuring betterment in sports infrastructure in schools, asking children to actively take part in extra- curricular activities, there are more than five thousand schools in Jammu region of the state have no play grounds. 105 schools in the region are functioning without Headmasters or Principals. 1257 schools in Jammu have no subject teachers.
And finally, there are 683 schools in JK which have recorded less than 30 percent of the result. Again of out of these 683 schools, 476 which are around 70 percent in total, are in Jammu region of the state.
Besides the departmental survey, a study done by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has also revealed that nearly 80 percent of the schools in the JK are without electricity connections. Little so far has been done to put lid over such crises and while the government was ought to take remedial measures sans any delay, it is raising concern over why the department isn't functioning in a digital mode.
In the study, ASSOCHAM has listed 10 states with poor electricity supply in schools. J&K ranks fourth. The states topping the list include Bihar, with just 8.1% of schools having electricity, and Jharkhand (12.0 %) and Assam (15.9%). There are as many as 6000 schools in the state without electricity. The survey has also revealed that 75 percent of schools have no computer labs.
Meanwhile, on Monday directing for upgradation of schools, the Union Minister said that it is high time that the schools presently upto 8th standard should be upgraded to secondary level and the secondary level schools should be upgraded to higher secondary level. He assured the centre would help in the initiative. |
