Srinagar, Nov 11: The Employees’ Joint Action Committee (Q) president and chairman Jammu and Kashmir Teachers’ Forum Abdul Qayoon Wani has asked the government to clear the rent arrear claims of the owners of high school buildings without further delay.
 “Even as the government has been making tall claims about prioritising the education sector in the state, it is yet to clear the rent arrears of the high school buildings. The landlords of school buildings in Srinagar are crying hoarse for payment of rent pending for the past more than 12 months. The brunt of their ire is being borne by the heads and staff of these educational institutions for no fault of theirs,” said the Forum chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani, while addressing a meeting of Forum here.
 “The government is constructing parks, community halls, roads, large buildings for different offices and purposes in Srinagar but it has no funds for constructing school buildings. Almost all the government schools in Srinagar are housed in rented buildings. Most of these buildings are in dilapidated condition without doors and windowpanes, toilets and other basic facilities. The pathetic condition of these buildings and lack of basic facilities are the main reasons of falling enrolment in government schools,” said Wani, adding that had the government been really sincere in its claims about its priority to education sector, it would have constructed new school buildings or at least made it necessary for landlords of these institutions to ensure maintenance of the buildings and compounds.
 The Forum has appealed to the chief minister Omar Abdullah, the education minister Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, the secretary education Naseema Lankar, and the director school education, Kashmir, Shugufta Parveen, for intervention and immediate clearance of rent arrear claims of the landlords of government high schools of Srinagar. Besides, he has further appealed them to take steps for construction schools buildings especially in Srinagar and ensure maintenance of rented school buildings by the landlords.
 Regarding heating arrangements in school, Wani said provision of this arrangement for winter would be a futile exercise until the classrooms of schools have doors and widows. “When there are no windowpanes in the classroom what is the use of keeping a bukhari there,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST