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Parliamentary panel on Education
Why is it in the news?
- According to a report submitted by the parliamentary panel on education, almost half the government schools in the country do not have any electricity or playgrounds.
- The budgetary allocations saw a 27% cut from proposals made by the School Education department.
More in the news
- Cut in Funds:
(1) The proposals made by the School Education department was for Rs. 82,570 crore, but only ₹59,845 crore has been allocated.
(2) The panel recommended that these core schemes get additional funds at the revised estimates stage.
- Deficit in Infrastructure:
(1) The panel expressed dismay at the stark deficits in government school infrastructure.
(2) Only 56% of schools have electricity, with the lowest rates in Manipur and Madhya Pradesh, where less than 20% have access to power.
(3) Less than 57% of schools have playgrounds.
- In higher secondary schools:
(1) Not a single additional classroom had been built by December 31, 2019, although 1,021 had been sanctioned for the FY 2019-20.
(2) Only three laboratories had been built — one each for physics, chemistry and biology- despite sanctioned funds for 1,343 labs.
- No boundary wall:
(1) Almost 40% of schools did not have a boundary wall, endangering the safety of students and school property.
- The panel recommendation:
(1) The HRD Ministry should collaborate with the MGNREGS to construct boundary walls, and work with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy so that schools have access to power.
Source
The Hindu.