Imagine seventy young boys crammed into two small rooms poring over their books and taking notes. One might find it hard to believe that such a classroom exists. But that is how the students at the government-run school in the Rafiabad area of north Kashmir go about studying daily.
The government primary school Teeliyan Muhalla in zone Dangiwacha of Rafiabad has 70 students. The school has only three rooms of which one serves as office and other two rooms are used as classrooms for the students.
This government school in remote village has not seen any development in its infrastructure since its establishment.
A visit to the school depicts the grim scenario of the education sector in the J&K state. The academic as well infrastructural standards of this school punctures the tall claims of the government for taking the education sector to new heights.
“This school was established under erstwhile SSA scheme followed by the construction of a three roomed building but the accommodation doesn’t suffice the need,” said an official wishing not to be named.
The school is located near a hill and has adequate available space for construction of additional classroom block to accommodate the students. “The department should approve an additional classroom block for students,” the official said.
This school has not faced official neglect in infrastructural upgradation but in terms of academics as well. The school has only two teachers for 70 students while the the other institutions in this zone are overstaffed.
But the Zonal education officer (ZEO) Dangiwachha claimed that there are four teachers in this school. “I will still collect the details about it,” he said.
Middle School Anwarabad in Watergam area of zone Dangiwacha has student population of 12. But the department has posted four teachers here. According to norms, the teacher-pupil ratio in middle school should be 1:30. But in this middle school, the norm has been thrown out of the window. For every teacher there are just three students.
“I have recently shifted a teacher from the school. Now we have only three teachers in tis school,” ZEO Dangiwacha said. The disproportionate teacher-student ratio in the schools of this zone has exposed the department for its failure to streamline the ratio in schools.
The situation in other schools is no different. Government middle school Bahrampora has 68 students and the department has posted 11 teachers here. For every teacher there are just six students. Government Middle School (GMS) Malgonipora in Dangiwaccha zone has 30 students and seven teachers.
GMS Rawoocha has 150 students and nine teachers while and GMS Pazilora has nine teachers for 55 students. Meanwhile, ZEO Dangiwacha justified the posting of teachers in these schools and said the department has to post one teacher for a class even if there is only one student it.
“A middle school requires eight teachers for eight classes even if it has only one student in a class,” he said.