It may appear unbelievable that 1,175 government schools in Punjab have been without principals for a decade, that 30,000 posts of teacher are vacant, 66 per cent schools are without adequate seating facilities for children and a large number of teachers in the border areas and elsewhere sub-let their posts. But those familiar with the way the government functions in Punjab are hardly surprised. Successive governments have neglected primary, secondary and medical education, squandering limited resources on gimmicks like running parallel “adarsh schools” when so many primary schools in villages lack the basic necessities, including blackboards and toilets.
A survey undertaken by a private institute at the behest of the state government has revealed that the experiment of handing over schools to zila parishads has failed to improve primary education. The mid-day meal scheme too has come a cropper in Punjab as either there are not enough food supplies or substandard, insect-infested food items are made available for children. Teachers at the grassroots level are paid low salaries and many operate from nearby towns or cities where they send their own children to better public schools. There is an appreciable awareness among parents tp provide the best possible education to their children. Even a family with modest means tries to send its children to a private, English-medium school. The political parties cashing in on their rural vote banks have failed to focus on this primary need of the villagers, who need it badly to come out of poverty and ignorance. The poor have no means to get their right to quality education enforced. Punjab is among the states that spend the lowest on education – just 2 per cent of their revenue. Lack of money is no excuse as ruling state politicians and bureaucrats are notorious for their extravagance at the government expense.
Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India.
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