Srinagar, May 10: Taking suo-moto cognizance of Greater Kashmir news story about pathetic condition of Government schools across Kashmir Valley, the High Court Thursday issued notice to the State seeking its response.
 A division bench comprising acting chief justice, Justice Virender Singh and Justice Hasnain Massodi have made Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Director School Education Kashmir and Director School Education Jammu as respondents in the case. After submission by State counsel Shah Aamir, the Court has given respondents four weeks to respond to the notice.
 In its detailed report about the grim educational scenario of rural education in Jammu and Kashmir, it was stated that some of the basics like provision of drinking water and toilet facilities were not available in primary schools.
 According to the Annual Status of Education Report [ASER-2011], J&K’s rural schools are far behind in meeting the RTE indicators. The data reveals that 47.2 percent schools in rural J&K don’t have drinking water facility while 33.4 percent schools are without a toilet facility. The data reveals that 61.0 percent schools have no separate provision for girl toilets.
 The ASER says that close to 50 percent schools have no library and about 48 percent schools are without a playground. Only 28 percent schools are with a boundary wall.
  As per the RTE indicators, there has to be a library in each school providing newspapers, magazines and books on all subjects, including story-books while safe and drinking water facilities are a pre-requisite. A boundary wall is essentially required to secure the school infrastructure and children.
 According to the ASER survey, of 351 schools surveyed, 86 percent admit to have received the SSA maintenance grant in 2010-11 and 77.8 in 2008-09 while 77.2 percent of schools have received SSA development grant in 2010-11 and 74.7 in 2008-09. With the TLM [Teaching-Learning Material] grant, out of 350 schools surveyed, 91.5 percent have received it in 2010-11 and 83.1 percent in 2008-09.
 According to the report, 96.1 percent of schools [from class I-IV/V] were without computers in 2010-11 while 84.5 were without computers in standards I-VII/VIII during this period.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 IST