 G S Asgotra
Jammu, Aug 27: In yet another example of the state government's insensitive attitude towards education system in rural areas, three government primary schools falling under R S Pura zone have closed due to staff dearth. According to information provided by School Education Department under RTI, three primary schools at Fathepur Shakan, Kottah Kalayana and Kheteper have been closed. Some children, who had no other school to go in their respective villages, were forced to leave their education. A local, Kirshan Kumar said that his three nephews and one niece who were studying in primary school Fathepur Shakan before it was closed, were later admitted to a private school, which falls between Haripur and his village. He said that being poor, they were not in a position to bear the expenses of the private school. "We are not even able to pay monthly fee and our children feel humiliated when the school management asks them to clear their dues," he added. Another resident Ravi Kumar said, "Since the closure of schools, some influential families have started encroaching the school land. A Panchayat representative had aqllegedly encroached upon a portion of the school building." Sarpanch Jaswant Singh, castigating the education department, alleged that border villages were being given step motherly treatment by the state govt. "I have demanded reopening of these schools from concerned authorities including ZEO, CEO and MLA but unfortunately no action has been taken so far", he added. Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Suresh Dubey said he was not aware about it. "The matter will be taken up with the concerned quarters to reopen these schools in case these were closed due staff dearth", he added. |
