Rented schools in Srinagar major challenge for Education department
Srinagar, Mar 2: The lack of permanent accommodation for government-run schools in Srinagar district has thrown up a major challenge for the School Education Department (SED) to overcome the infrastructural gaps in the institutions.
As per the official figures around 40 percent of the schools in the district are operating from the rented accommodations while those operating from government owned buildings are also facing accommodation crunch.
The schools functioning in the rented accommodations, since their establishment have deprived the students of their access to ICT laboratories and other technological interventions which are gradually coming up in schools operating from spacious government buildings.
As already reported by this newspaper, Srinagar district has around 386 schools out of which around 170 are operating from rented accommodations.
"Lack of permanent buildings for schools has put the students at the receiving end. In other districts schools are being equipped with various facilities and students are given access to computer laboratories as well. But in Srinagar, students do not have a playground to play during school hours," the official said.
Most of these schools, operating from rented accommodations, lack basic facilities such as libraries and computer laboratories as well.
"As per the policy, any school operating from a rented accommodation is not entitled for any infrastructure upgrade and cannot be equipped with a computer laboratory or any other additional facilities," the official said.
Over the years it has been observed that schools operating from rented accommodations are mostly in shabby conditions where students of more than one class are crammed in a single room.
"In Srinagar district, even those schools functioning in permanent buildings face serious accommodation issues because these schools face issues due to non-availability of land," the official said.
"In most of the schools, students are crammed in small rooms with poor ventilation," he said.
In absence of permanent buildings, it becomes challenging for the teachers to manage classes throughout the academic session.
"During summers, the students face a tough time due to extreme heat and during onset of winters, the students shiver as these schools lack proper facilities,” the official said.
Amid the accommodation crunch, the department is roping in the MLAs of district Srinagar to overcome the challenge.
Earlier, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Srinagar, Ghulam Mohi-Ud-din Bhat said that lack of permanent accommodation was a major challenge. "But we are working on it," CEO Srinagar earlier told Greater Kashmir.
He said the schools were simultaneously being projected with Samagra Shiksha and Capex budget as well. As already reported by this newspaper, around 35 percent government schools of Hazratbal constituency alone are operating from rented accommodation.
The constituency has 77 government schools out of which 50 schools are housed in Government owned buildings while 27 schools are functioning from rented accommodations,"
Amid the infrastructure deficiency, the government projects buildings for these rented schools, under the Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) under Samagra Shiksha.
