Schools ill-facilitated, admission fest useless: Cong

Raipur, June 18, 2012

Congress on Monday ridiculed ruling BJP for organising Shala Pravesh Utsav pointing that it was only making mockery of its own through such pomp and shows while the government schools do not even have radical facilities like building, drinking water etc.

“There is no need of such admission festivals as neither students nor their parents would get attracted by the ill-facilitated schools,” said Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

“The teaching staffers in majority of government schools are insufficient. Ironically, the government still expects from the students to pursue their studies,” says Trivedi.

He informed that the setup of 877 high schools in state are still incomplete, 551 higher secondary schools do not have principal, posts of senior teachers are vacant in 6862 middle schools and post of headmasters is vacant in 16748 primary schools.

“Similarly, about 17000 posts of senior lecturers in government schools have not been filled. About 25872 posts of assistant lecturers are vacant in higher secondary schools. There is only one teacher for 1179 schools. How come the Chief Minister and School Education Minister claim that students’ future in government schools is bright,” he asked.

He alleged that the BJP government was overtly violating Right to Education (RTE) in the state.

“The RTE gives basic educational rights to children from 6-14 years of age. Under RTE, the children should mandatorily get free-of-cost education at nearby schools. There is also a provision of 25 percent quota for children from financially weaker section of the society in private schools. Unfortunately, the state government has failed to implement this system in private schools,” he said.

He informed that the Centre had provided Rs 678.63 crore to Chhattisgarh government under RTE, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission in 2010-11 to upgrade facilities in schools, however, about 24000 high schools lack toilets, 1928 high schools do not have drinking water facility, 554 ashram schools and 886 hostels do not have their own building and 411 high schools are being operated in rented buildings,” he added.

He alleged that the ruling BJP misused the funds meant for upgradation of government schools and the CM was responsible for playing with the future of the students.