Ishika (12) studied in the Government school No 28 Rishikul till class V, but now she is seen wandering around the district hospital where her mother works as sanitation worker. She stays there, idling away time during the day till her mother is free from work and goes back home. Sometimes, she assists her mother in lifting waste bins. This is the picture of primary education in the district. Close to 12% of the students fail to go to the junior schools from the primary level despite attempts being made at all levels by Government schools to increase enrollments.
The standard of education in the Government schools in the district is not showing any noticeable improvement. Total strength of students in class V in the district is 37106 which must be 42223 as per the latest survey conducted by the District Education Department, Basics. While 34% shortage of teachers is always marked in primary and junior level schools, there is even lack of basic facilities like drinking water. An estimated 6% of the schools do not have access to clean drinking water and there is lack of toilet facility for girls in 5% of the schools.
The number of private schools is increasing and so is rising the number of students every year. However, the number of students in Government schools is dwindling. Not to speak of the rural areas, even the Government-run schools in the urban areas of Haridwar, Roorkee and Manglaur have a dozen schools with zero or negligible enrollments.
Statistics, provided by the district education department, Basics, say that Haridwar district has 672 primary and 188 junior schools. As per the Right to Education Act, one teacher must be deputed for 30 students, but on the ground, things are grim. The teachers’ shortage is a staggering 33.08%.
As regards drinking water facility and electricity, a lot is left to be done. Nine percent of the school-going children do not have books. Given such an abysmal kind of infrastructure and basic amenities, one wonders how things are going on in these schools.
Quizzed over the prevailing gloomy state of things, the District Education Officer (Basic) Brahmpal Singh Saini said, “As per the standards of RTE Act, plans have been firmed up to appoint more teachers to bridge the shortfall and to make available books, electricity, water, uniform and toilets in the academic session 2018-19. Works have already started at the State Government level.”