Jammu, Mar 2: Shortage of staff in majority of the schools in Jammu and Kashmir presents a gloomy picture of growth in the State’s education sector, an official survey reveals.
 This is also considered as a main obstacle in the accomplishment of the aim of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) of universalisation of elementary and primary education, it states.
 Official figures revealed that 67 percent schools in J&K were facing shortage of adequate staff. But contrary to it in district Leh the staff in the schools was found to be in excess of norms.
 “The excess of staff in district Leh was evidently involving cases of undesirable attachments leaving other schools to suffer,” the Economic Survey Report, released by the Government revealed.
 The report further revealed that the establishment of schools and their up-gradation would in no way pave way for achievement of universalisation of primary and elementary education unless it is supported by placement of sufficient teaching staff.
 The report maintained that while examining the official data made available by the SSA authorities on the achievements made under the programme, it has come to light that SSA authorities had distinguished itself in establishing and upgrading schools.
 “But the situation of other interventions for children belonging to nomadic, training of community leaders, provision for disabled children etc was very poor mainly due to poor weightage given to such interventions”.
 The report further stressed that for all round development of child universalisation of education and to improve the quality of education, the unattended interventions needs to be addressed for ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth rate.
 At one hand the enrollment of girl children had increased at much faster rate in the state but on the other the male children enrollment had recorded decrease. The child labour was considered as a reason of decreased enrollment.
  “In 2007-2008 and 2008-09, the ratio of females: males were 51:49. Prior to that this ratio (F: M) was much better at 52:48 and 53:47. This situation is encouraging so far as schooling of girl child is concerned but at the same time a cause of concern for policy makers to ascertain the reasons for unfavourable enrollment position of male children. It could be due to increase in the intensity of child labour which happens to be a serious social problem recognized world over” the report said.
 The report points out that in most of the schools there were problems of accommodation, low staff, lack of kitchen for cooking mid day meals, lack of drinking water/ toilet facilities, furniture etc. besides delay in release of grants particularly at the level of ZEOs. It further said that 77 percent of the schools were established/ converted/ upgraded under the SSA programme

Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST