‘My teacher is always sleeping in class’

DECCAN HERALD 3 JUNE 2012 New Delhi, May 31 2012, DHNS: Several children have written postcards to Chief Justice of Delhi asking him to intervene in resolving persistent issues in government schools — relating to health, water, absent teachers, hygiene, security and abuse by non-teaching staff. The postcard campaign was organised by a civil rights group at Jahangirpuri resettlement colony and Samaypur Badli slum colony for children from economically weaker background. This campaign saw wide-scale participation from children studying in government schools — Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya, Badli, Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Badli, Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Jahangirpuri and others. Nearly 75 postcards were collected. Madhubala, a class 11 student of Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya, Badli complained that students have to clean classrooms on a roll number- wise roster. Premchand, a class 12 student of Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Badli said that the teachers are always sleeping in the class. Students also alleged that teachers force them to deal with garbage. They complained that in many schools fans did not work, there is no water supply, no canteens and the toilets are unhygienic. Siraz Anwar, a student of Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Azadpur Colony highlighted that cleaners abuse students and they are forced to leave school premises even during school hours due to lack of security. Lack of books and bad condition of stationery in schools were also highlighted. Students wrote about inadequate computer facilities and teachers who were not trained to teach their subject. Khagesh Jha and Ashok Agarwal, advocates and RTE campaigners expressed their happiness over various High Court orders regarding the Right to Education, which have been instrumental in initiating a positive change. However, they said a lot more needs to be done to improve basic facilities in government schools. On the positive side, Sushmita, a student of MCD Primary School, Rohini Sector-18 said teachers are helpful and she feels safe in school.