About 77. 1 per cent Government schools of the State lack boundary walls. While, 65.6 per cent such schools are devoid of playground. 63.5 per cent schools do not have bench for sitting. The fact was mentioned in the latest report card on the status of Government schools as per Right to Education prepared by a group of NGOs.
Dozens of such cases were brought at the State level Public Hearing of Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR) in Ranchi on Friday.
Nibha Devi, the president of School Management Committee (SMC) at Angara’s middle school said their teachers and students are often troubled by cattle as the school is not surrounded by boundary wall. “We cannot prepare the Mid Day Meal because of rare drinking water facilities. Boys and girls are compelled to use common toilet. The Panchayat members never help us. So, we are here to admit some of our girl students in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya for their better future,” added Devi.
Another, School Management Committee member Moneja Bibi from a government school of Gumla’s Raidih block said most of the basic facilities are upto the mark but they cannot take initiatives. “All three SMC members including me are illiterate. We have come here to learn how women like us can contribute towards the development of their respective schools,” Bibi maintained.
like Bibi and Devi, Savita Mahto, president of a School Management Committee at a school of West Singhbhum said the roof of the classes are in a dilapidated condition besides boundary walls and toilets for girls and boys.
Taking prompt action over the complains, the members of JSCPCR including commission’s Chairperson Roop laxmi Munda, Members Ranjana Choudhary and Sanjay Mishra along with Advisor to the Commissioner of Supreme Court Balram, Assistant labour Commissioner Rajesh Kumar and Deputy Superintendent of Education Jayant Kumar Mishra directed a thorough inquiry over the infrastructural hurdles dealt by the schools.
Besides, the mentioned problems, the report card also focuses on the poor quality education provided to the students. This relates 59. 8 percent schools where language is a barrier for students to learn. Also, it shows that 67.3 percent schools do not have special classes for drop-out students.
The members of JSCPCR have ordered an inquiry in this scenario as well.
However, the report card has shown improvement in Mid Day Meal existing in all the Government schools. Among the parameters framed for survey on MDM, the quality and quantity monitoring by School Committee is yet to be improved. It is presently poor in 7.4 percent schools.