The Arvind Kejriwal Government has allocated about Rs 700 crore for creating new earthquake-resistant infrastructure in its 1,011-Government run schools in the National Capital by June next year.
The amount has been approved by the expenditure and finance committee meeting recently. A decision to this effect was taken at a recent meeting which among others was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and senior officers of the Directorate of Education and the Public Works Department (PWD) -- the Government’s resolve to accord top priority to the education sector.
Top source told The Pioneer that the AAP Government had allocated the money for creating new infrastructure in schools on the basis of a survey conducted by the Directorate of Education (DoE). The survey had showed acute shortage of classrooms, laboratories, toilets, activity rooms, multi-purpose hall, in the existing schools.
“A survey of student strength versus class rooms was conducted by DoE for identifying the schools where students classroom ratio was found to be around 50 or more. 193 such schools have been identified having student ratio of more than 50,” the report said.
According to sources, the Government has told the PWD that it should raise four-storey structures in the existing schools. “Instructions have been given to use shining granite for flooring and ceramic structures in toilets. The new structures should have classrooms, multipurpose hall, laboratories and an activity room for students.”
A senior bureaucrat said the PWD has been told to complete the entire construction work by academic session next year. “The department has been told that there should be no cost escalation. If there is cost inflation, it will lead to strict penalties against the violators. Once the new structures are complete, the same has to be handed over to the DOE. There should be stringent penalty clause for timely completion of the work”
The Government is also planning to develop 50 Model Schools. Plans have been formulated to provide the required modern facilities in these schools, as also to motivate teachers through specialised training.
It would be pertinent to mention that the AAP Government had already earmarked a total expenditure of Rs 9,836 crore for education for 2015-16 financial year. Of this, Rs 4,560 crore had been earmarked for the plan expenditure. The budget for education sector had been increased by 106 per cent in comparison to the money allocated to this sector in the previous financial year.
The party had promised in its manifesto to open 500 new schools in the national Capital in the five year. Strangely, no new school has been opened in the first eight months.