57% of 122 govt-run schools in Maha lack full-time principal

Survey also revealed that several government schools lack adequate facilities and suffer from poor infrastructure

A recent survey of government-run schools in Maharashtra revealed that about 57% of them do not have a full-time principal.

Pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in government school varies from 6:1 in Ahmednagar to 44:1 in Aurangabad. (Representational photo)

The survey by Child Rights and You (CRY), a non-governmental organisation, and Bal Hakk Abhiyan (BHA), an alliance of individuals and organisations working in education sector, tried to measure the performance of schools on various indicators mentioned in the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009. They surveyed 122 state-run schools in Ahmednagar, Pune, Gadchiroli, Parbhani, Aurangabad, Latur, Beed and Mumbai.

The report reveals that several government schools lack adequate facilities and suffer from poor infrastructure. Around 13% of schools did not have a sturdy building, whereas 21% schools have no compound wall — one of the provisions mentioned in the RTE Act. Also, 69% of the surveyed schools do not have a separate library and 34% schools lack playgrounds. The survey stated that 69% of school toilets are cleaned by students or teachers .

“If we look at this from the perspective of power, it is possible that discrimination may exist in the allocation of these duties based on gender, caste, class, economic status. Schools being egalitarian and secular institutions, the responsibility of cleaning toilets should be not done by children and teachers. The government should appoint adequate staff to do the job,” reads the report.

Pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in government school varies from 6:1 in Ahmednagar to 44:1 in Aurangabad. Gadchiroli, Latur, Ahmednagar and Beed were found to have much better PTR than Parbhani, Aurangabad, Pune and Mumbai.

“Gadchiroli is a rural, tribal area and there are many ashramshalas. Children are sent to the ashramshalas as they get food, clothing and educational under one roof. But in Latur, Ahmednagar and Beed, it is possible that the children are moving away from government schools to private institutes,” the report added.

“We are yet to find schools that perform well on all 10 indicators. If the schools are not up to the mark, do not shut them down. Instead, the government needs to make efforts to strengthen them,” said BP Suryavanshi from BHA.