Srinagar, Nov 21: The J&K Teachers’ Forum chairman, Abdul Qayoom Wani has asked the government to take concrete steps to improve the condition of school buildings in the state in general and Srinagar city in particular.
Addressing a meeting of Forum office-bearers here, Wani lamented that the government was turning a Nelson’s eye towards the pathetic condition of school buildings. “Most of the schools in district Srinagar are housed in rented buildings which are without compounds, lavatories and window panes let alone having playground, computer facilities and separate rooms for laboratory and library,” he said, accusing the government of doing nothing to make government schools attractive for people to send their wards there.
The chairman alleged that the government was yet to clear the rent liabilities of high schools pending for the past more than 12 months. “The heads of these schools along with staff are subjected to harassment by the landlords who frequently visit the institutions demanding immediate clearance of rent arrears,” he said, urging the authorities concerned to allot rent budget to these schools without further delay.
“The government has so far closed down hundreds of schools in Srinagar city since 1975, citing plausible reasons that the buildings housing these schools were unsafe. But it hardly constructed any new school building in the city. It has funds for the construction of roads, parks, shopping malls, community halls, etc. but when it comes to construction of school buildings, it says that it has no funds,” said Wani, adding “Every government is claiming that education sector is its priority, but this myth explodes when we see the condition of school buildings.”
Wani urged the government to construct new school buildings from primary to secondary level in all localities and also ensure that the landlords of rented buildings do necessary repairs and whitewashing, etc., according to the agreements signed by them.
The chairman also appealed to the teaching community to demonstrate resourcefulness in absence of facilities and work with more devotion and dedication.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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