Govt primary schools in Mohali: Authorities pass the buck

There are around 450 government primary schools in the district, having a strength of approximately 35,000 students.

In the ongoing case regarding the poor state of Mohali government primary schools before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, not only have the district authorities failed to submit a status report regarding the lack of infrastructure, but they also continue to pass the buck when it comes to the construction of a toilet in a rural primary school.

In the interim report filed by District Panchayat Education Officer (DPEO) Subhash Mahajan before the commission, he said that the construction of a toilet in the government school at Chhoti Bari Naggal village was the responsibility of the District Education Officer (DEO) as the latter had the authority to seek grants under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme.

Strangely, however, before the previous hearing, DEO Gurjeet Singh had submitted a report saying that the said school came under the Panchayati Raj institutions and he had written to the DPEO in this regard, after which the DPEO was summoned.

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The commission has now given another opportunity to the education authorities to submit a report, and also summoned the District Education Officer (Elementary Education) and the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) who failed to appear before the commission for the hearing on Thursday.

“No report has been received from DPI (Elementary Education), Punjab. Not caring for the orders of the commission has been viewed seriously. DPEO stated that he has no knowledge regarding these issues which are concerned with DEO,” said the commission in its order.

There are around 450 government primary schools in the district, having a strength of approximately 35,000 students.

On May 6 this year, Newsline had highlighted the shortage of nearly 6,500 benches, around 190 classrooms and more than 13,000 metres of boundary wall, among other things.

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Also, around 100 schools needed major repair, according to the data provided by schools in the District Information of School Education (DISE) survey which is held every year.

The commission had taken suo motu cognisance of the report and asked for a status report from the authorities. In June, the DEO had replied that action had been taken to meet shortage of books while a proposal seeking furniture and additional infrastructure had already been sent to the Director General of School Education.

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Punjab