Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said majority of the Government schools were in pathetic condition and lacked basic facilities.
While replying to the discussion on working of Education Department in the Upper House today, Bukhari said out of over 23400 schools in the State, 17167 have no boundary walls, 17112 no play grounds, 17100 were without electricity connection and 16912 without water supply/ tap water. More than 60 % had no toilet facilities whereas, over 19000 schools require minor and 9512 major repairs.
He further disclosed that about 100 posts of principals, 1952 of lecturers, 3612 of masters and 4680 of teachers in various schools across the State were lying vacant.
Bukhari also disclosed that about 11 lakh children are studying in Government schools and nearly 9 lakh in private schools in the State. For about 30% students of Govt schools, there are no desks and they are being made to sit on jute mats and in many that too, are not available.
He said despite all odds, the credit for the accomplishments in education sector goes to the teachers and other staff of the department who are working tirelessly for streamlining the system.
“Taking note of the fact that the Education Department has started witnessing visible transformation on the ground, the Government increased the CAPEX Budget of the School Education Department for the year 2018-19 to keep the momentum of the infrastructure upgradation,” the Minister said.
He said the investment in education sector means investment in the future of the children. “We cannot afford to make our students suffer for shortage of staff. Teachers have to be discharged from all non-teaching assignments, including election-related duties and other duties,” he said.
Bukhari said the department is working with Legislators, cutting across the political divide to identify schools, in order of their preference, in their respective constituencies which qualify for upgradation. “Our students have great potential and it is our responsibility to provide adequate facilities and other related atmosphere to hone their talent and make them responsible citizens of the society and also link their education with skill development, ” he said.
He disclosed that an amount of Rs 150 crore has been kept for upgradation of schools while Rs 50 crore for the improving facilities/ infrastructure of colleges this year.
The Minister said the Government will soon come up with a policy to elevate the educational infrastructure in the state. “Majority of the Government schools are in a pathetic condition and lack of basic facilities like electricity, drinking water, labs, ramps, playgrounds, computer-aided labs and tools of modern learning like Smart Classrooms,” he said and added that the sector needs huge investment to provide such facilities.
He said the Government is committed to decrease the infrastructural gaps in the education sector and the quality of education being imparted to the students in schools will be paramount importance of the Government.
Earlier, several members including Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Naresh Kumar Gupta, Vibodh Gupta, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ajatshatru Singh, Showkat Hussain Ganaie, Sham Lal Bhagat, Ramesh Arora and Mohammad Khursheed Aalam participated in the discussion on the functioning of the Education Department. Most of them complimented the Minister for his performance.
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