Teacher shortage bogs Bhubaneswar slums' 49% govt schools: Odisha NGO survey

By Our Representative
Over 49% of Government Schools in Bhubaneswar slums struggle with teacher shortage, revealed a study on "status of school infrastructure in government schools'' conducted by the people's collective Bhubaneswar Bikash Sangathan (BBS) and NGO Atmashakti Trust. The study, which was conducted with 135 schools, found that many schools in the area are not complying with Right to Education (RTE) norms.
According to the study, over 49.61% (67) of government schools in Bhubaneswar slums face a shortage of teachers against the sanctioned number as per RTE norms. Moreover, 58.50% (79) of schools surveyed need class-appropriate classrooms, affecting students' learning outcomes. The report also found that 11% of schools in Bhubaneswar slums face water-related issues, with 3% having no access to drinking water facilities and 5% having damaged sources.
The survey report revealed that 1.48% of schools need toilet facilities, leading to irregular attendance, particularly for girls. Additionally, 5.18% of schools need separate toilets for boys and girls, and 2.22% of school toilets need more water facilities, making them unusable. The report also showed that 11.11% of schools lacked playgrounds, and 8.88% didn't have a boundary wall, which is crucial for student safety and well-being.
The study findings also show that 29.62% of schools lack a library, an essential resource for teaching and learning. Additionally, 27.40% of surveyed schools need computers, hindering students' access to new skills and more advanced versions of lessons. Further, 59.25% of schools need repairs, causing delays and difficulties for students and staff.
Members of the Bhubaneswar Bikash Sangathan have urging the government to implement a transparency board in schools to inform compliance with RTE norms. They also want the authorities to fulfil basic infrastructural requirements, initiate community-driven social Aaudits, and provide adequate funds to panchayats/ wards to meet infrastructural needs to address the issue.
---

Click here for study report

Comments

Gujarat's high profile GIFT city 'fails to attract' funds, India's FinTech investment dips

By Rajiv Shah While the Narendra Modi government may have gone out of the way to promote the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), sought to be developed as India’s formidable financial technology hub off the state capital Gandhinagar, just 20 km from Ahmedabad, a recent report , prepared by Tracxn Technologies suggests that neither of the two cities figure in the list of top FinTech funding receiving centres.

Why Ramdev, vaccine producing pharma companies and government are all at fault

By Colin Gonsalves* It was perhaps Ramdev’s closeness to government which made him over-confident. According to reports he promoted a cure for Covid, thus directly contravening various provisions of The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Persons convicted of such offences may not get away with a mere apology and would suffer imprisonment.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Decade long Modi rule 'undermines' people's welfare and democracy

By Ram Puniyani* Modi has many ploys up his sleeves when it comes to propaganda. On one hand he is turning many a pronouncements of Congress in the communal direction, on the other he is claiming that whatever has been achieved during last ten years of his rule is phenomenal, but it is still a ‘trailer’ and the bigger things are in the offing as he claims to be coming to power yet again in 2024. While his admirers are ga ga about his achievements, the truth lies somewhere else.

Malayalam movie Aadujeevitham: Unrealistic, disservice to pastoralists

By Rosamma Thomas* The Malayalam movie 'Aadujeevitham' (Goat Life), currently screening in movie theatres in Kerala, has received positive reviews and was featured also on the website of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The story is based on a 2008 novel by Benyamin, and relates the real-life story of a job-seeker from Kerala tricked into working in slave conditions in a goat farm in Saudi Arabia.

Plagued by opportunism, adventurism, tailism, Left 'doesn't matter' in India

By Harsh Thakor* 2024 elections are starting when India appears to be on the verge of turning proto-fascist. The Hindutva saffron brigade has penetrated in every sphere of Indian life, every social order, destroying and undermining the very fabric of the Constitution.

Belgian report alleges MNC Etex responsible for asbestos pollution in Madhya Pradesh town Kymore: COP's Geneva meet

By Our Representative A comprehensive Belgian report has held MNC Etex , into construction business and one of the richest, responsible for asbestos pollution in Kymore, an industrial town in in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh. The report provides evidence from the ground on how Kymore’s dust even today is “annoying… it creeps into your clothes, you have to cough it”, saying “It can be deadly.”

Can universal basic income help usher in sustainable egalitarianism in India?

By Prof RR Prasad* The ongoing debate on application of Article 39(b) in the Supreme Court on redistribution of community material resources to subserve common good and for ushering in an egalitarian society has opened new vistas wherein possible available alternative solutions could be explored.

Press freedom? 28 journalists killed since 2014, nine currently in jail

By Kirity Roy* On the eve of the Press Freedom Day on 3rd of May, the Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) shared its anxiety with the broader civil society platforms as the situation of freedom of any form of expression became grimmer in India day by day. This day was intended to raise awareness on the importance of freedom of press and to pay tribute to pressmen who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Ahmedabad's Muslim ghetto voters 'denied' right to exercise franchise?

By Tanushree Gangopadhyay* Sections of Gujarat Muslims, with a population of 10 per cent of the State, have been allegedly denied their rights to exercise their franchise in the Juhapura area of Ahmedabad.

Search This Blog