67% Government schools without computers in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 10: In a shocking revelation, around 67 percent of the government-run schools in Srinagar district are functioning without computer laboratories, highlighting a critical gap in providing basic facilities in the educational institutions.

As per the official figures, out of the 386 government schools in the district, 260 are yet to be equipped with computers. The figures have been provided by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Srinagar in reply to the RTI application filed by a social activist M M Shuja.

These figures have pointed out the lack of facilities in schools wherein the students are being deprived of a basic component of modern education and technology.

The schools lack the facility of computers in schools at a time when the Ministry of Education (MoE) Government of India (GoI) has been pumping in funds in crores for setting up ICT laboratories and Computer-Assisted Learning (CAL) centres in government schools across Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the situation on ground is grim as these facilities are yet to be installed in government schools, thus depriving the students from having access to these technologies in schools.

An official said that the problem mostly persists in primary and middle level schools because of the dearth of accommodation as majority of the schools are either operating from rented accommodation or have dearth of rooms in government owned buildings.

Earlier this year, the Union Government while finalising the budget for the J&K's education sector earmarked funds for the provision of ICT labs and smart classrooms in 2584 schools with a focus on bringing advanced learning technologies to the students.

"Not only this year but funds have been allocated during previous years as well but the execution on ground is slow and most of the times funds remain unutilised," the official said.

He said that the initiative faces roadblock due to accommodation crunch in schools, particularly in Srinagar district.

As already reported, the MoE earlier stated that the J&K's education department has not equipped the educational institutions with functional internet connections despite the repeated advisory and guidelines issued by the union Ministry, GoI.

The ministry revealed that 22 percent of the schools in J&K were equipped with functional internet facilities.

Earlier, the MoE issued an advisory to all the States and UTs to enter into an MoU with BSNL and provide FTTH Internet connection to all the government schools which have computing devices.

The schools were asked to meet the internet charges from available resources in the institutions.