'Ministers' dogs get better facilities than students': Dipke on govt schools' conditions

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday, Aug 20th demanded the resignation of Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, saying government schools were in such disrepair that "even ministers' dogs get better facilities" than students.

Dipke made the remarks after visiting a Zilla Parishad school in Ujani village in Latur's Ausa tehsil, as part of his 'School Thik Karo' campaign, launched last week to press for improvements in government-run schools.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, he said elected representatives and ministers must be held accountable for the state of schools, many of which still lacked basic facilities such as proper classrooms, benches, toilets and safe access roads. Students in some schools, he alleged were being treated "worse than animals."

"It is a question of students' lives. When political leaders are not doing anything for students, why should people vote for them? Do people vote for them so that they can only travel in helicopters? People should see in what conditions their children are studying. The dogs of these ministers get better facilities than this," he added.

He also urged voters to demand that political leaders prioritise education before seeking votes. "Tell them not to come for votes at our doorstep till they work for education. For politics, we come out of our homes with flags of caste and community. Similarly, we should come out for the schools of our children," he said, adding that "the future of kids" was at greater risk than religion, contrary to claims made by some leaders.

Dipke also spoke that ministers and MLAs should enrol their own children in government schools to better understand the problems faced by students there. Asked whether Bhuse should continue in his post, he said the condition of schools suggested he should not, and reiterated that elected representatives ought to experience the system firsthand by sending their children to study in it.

He accused the ruling dispensation of failing to bring about meaningful change despite years in power. "Students are still studying in schools with leaking tin roofs and without adequate benches. If these basic problems could not be resolved in 10 years, the government must explain what it has achieved," he said.

The CJP along with local residents would continue raising the issue collectively and press the government to arrange safe transport for students who walk several kilometres to school: Dipke.

Referring to reports of children dying of snakebites in schools, he said such incidents reflected the administration's failure to ensure safe access to education. He also flagged unhygienic conditions at the school visited earlier by the CJP team, alleging that accumulated scrap and garbage behind the premises had created conditions conducive to snakes. He said the CJP's inspections had already prompted authorities to begin some repair work at inspected schools.

Public participation was essential to strengthening democracy. "People have begun finding their voice again. More organisations and movements should emerge in a democracy. The more people come forward and speak, the stronger our democracy will become," he said.

On Gen Z's growing political influence, he mentioned young people would form a significant electoral bloc by the 2029 elections, and warned that governments ignoring their concerns- including the state of schools would be held accountable at the ballot box. He said widespread protests could emerge across villages if school conditions were not improved.

On the CBI investigation into the NEET paper leak case in Latur, Dipke alleged the probe appeared focused on lower-level accused while shielding more senior figures. "It is difficult to believe that such a case could have taken place without the involvement of senior officials in the system. Merely arresting a few lower-level persons and claiming action is not enough," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)