Jammu, December 26: Without providing equipment and supply of power during working hours, the higher-ups in the Education Department have directed heads of government-run educational institutes to make heating arrangements in all schools to ‘protect’ students.
Shockingly, of the total 12,354 government schools functioning in the Jammu province, a majority of them lack adequate classrooms and teachers regularly take classes in the open amid harsh winter.
“The order issued by the higher-ups is nothing but a cruel joke with poor students of government schools because a majority of these institutions are ‘open-sky schools’. Making heating arrangements is impossible,” a teacher serving in Poonch district told media. Wishing anonymity, the teacher gave the example of Government High School, Kasba Poonch, which is functioning from a single room with 10 classes, 290 students and 18 staff members. “Almost all classes are taken in the open. So, how can heating arrangements be made in such schools?” he asked, adding, “a majority of government schools lack buildings”.
Keeping in view the prevailing harsh winter, the Director, School Education, Anuradha Gupta had issued on order on December 23 in which the advisory was issued.
“In view of the cold weather conditions, outside activities in schools shall be restricted and proper heating arrangements shall be made for students,” the order mentioned and further directed that the morning assembly shall be avoided and the time shall be utilised for studies.
The CEO of the hilly district of Poonch, Jagjit Singh, said the heads of schools had to arrange heating equipment from local funds because there was no specific fund allocated for this purpose. “The procurement of heating equipment depends on availability of local funds,” he said but admitted that availability of power during working hours, especially in rural areas, was another issue.
