For creating better infrastructure in schools, the Chhattisgarh Government has sanctioned Rs8.45 crore for construction of a total of 50 High School buildings in different parts of the State. School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap informed that the approvals have been made from Budget allocated to the Department for fiscal 2015-16. The school buildings would be constructed in Jagdalpur block, Dhanpunji and Kachla block of Bastar district; Sudhpal, Markuchi, Baniyagaon, Sorgaon, Rajpur and Nandpura village of Basatr block; Kolepal of Tokpal block and Tirathgarh of Darbha block.
The Chhattisgarh Government is constantly making efforts to improve the student-teacher ratio in Chhattisgarh besides enhancing the educational facilities in the State, officials stated. As a result of these efforts, student-teacher ratio in schools of Chhattisgarh has reached close to the national average of 25 students per teacher.
This ratio in primary schools of the State is around 23 students per teacher and in middle schools it is 24 students per teacher. likewise, the State also has 83 per cent of the children enrolled in Government schools. Kashyap stated last year that effective steps have been taken to enhance infrastructure of schools.
Kashyap said that in year 2010, only 79 per cent schools in State had their own offices, store-rooms or office-cum-storerooms. In year 2014, this figure has improved to 82.3 per cent. likewise, in year 2010, only 45 per cent of the schools had the facility of playground. But by 2014, this figure has increased to 64.2 per cent.
He further stated that as per the survey, number of schools equipped with boundary walls has increased from 48.8 per cent to 60.8 per cent in last four years. In the same period of time, the State Government took up a special campaign of providing lavatory and safe drinking water facilities in schools. In this campaign, the number of schools equipped with these facilities, which was 82 per cent earlier, has increased to nearly 90 per cent at present.
Moreover, nearly 92 per cent schools have been equipped with the facility of lavatory in year 2014. Earlier, this figure was only 71 per cent. For midday meal scheme, schools are being provided with kitchen facility. In year 2010, only 86 per cent schools had kitchen shades. This has increased to around 93 per cent in year 2014.