Srinagar, Oct 05 (KNS) Congress leader Kadfeen Choudhary on International day of Teachers has hailed the services of Jammu and Kashmir’s teaching fraternity that it has rendered amid the trying circumstances and making strenuous efforts in turning the state into a hub of modern learning and education.
Kadfeen however, slammed the government over leaving the education sector in doldrums and taking least measures in equipping the government-run schools with modern infrastructure and the latest facilities.
In a statement issued to KNS, he said that even in the modern era of technology, government schools in the majority do not even have an electricity connection, leave alone availing the computer and internet facilities.
Kadfeen said that a study done by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has also revealed that nearly 80 percent of the schools in the JK is without electricity connections. Little so far has been done to put a lid over such crises and while the government was ought to take remedial measures sans any delay, it is raising concern over why the department isn’t functioning in a digital mode. In the study, ASSOCHAM has listed 10 states with poor electricity supply in schools. The Jammu and Kashmir ranks fourth. The states topping the list include Bihar, with just 8.1% of schools having electricity, and Jharkhand (12.0 %) and Assam (15.9%). There are as many as 6000 schools in the state without electricity. The survey has also revealed that 75 percent of schools have no computer labs.
“The government should be ashamed of itself for what it has done to the education sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Huge central grants have been allowed to go down the drain and the authorities have not even bothered to repair the dilapidated structures of majority of the schools here. It merits serious concern,” Kadfeen said.(KNS)