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Deplorable condition of government schools

Kashmir Times. Dated: 12/11/2017 4:09:58 PM

Dear Editor,
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Despite the fundamental importance to education in Indian constitution under Art. 21-A and RTE Act 2009, which describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 to 14 years of age, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is failing to set stage to provide basic amenities for erudition and quality education to nurture the students.
Majority of the students in the state still depend on government schools but the lack of infrastructure is leading to sustainability in dropout rate especially the girl student. Inadequate infrastructure in schools is a big barrier to enrollment and participation. A female teacher while sharing her experience said: “forget cleanliness in our school, we do not even have proper toilets.
It is difficult for the girls to manage without a toilet but we can’t do anything as we don’t know whom to complain”. Schools are supposed to be the temples of learning, but the average primary educational institution in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be a dingy, dilapidated place without access to electricity, toilet and with required teachers, because of that learning condition is abysmal and pathetic in the govt. schools. Students of higher secondary schools are suffering because of no transport facility and its propensity increases during the exam season. The government rule for standard of drinking water is applicable in private schools but the condition is miserable in government schools.
The Poor condition of education institution is a serious matter of concern. The state of Jammu and Kashmir should follow the infrastructural norms and other facilities in schools run by government as provided under centrally sponsored scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for primary schools and Rashtriyan Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyhan (RMSA) for secondary and higher secondary schools. The government should judiciously utilize centre sponsored funds to meet the necessity for the brighter future of students of J&K
—Touqeer Haider,
Law School, University of Jammu.