SSA a failed scheme in J&K

Funds blocked due to non-utilization by the CEOs

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, May 19: Thousand of students have been deprived from the basic facilities due to the negligence of Chief Education Officers (CEO)s as funds sanctioned by government for streamlined the education structure have been blocked due to non utilization in a specific time period.

According to the sources, the negligence on the part of some some CEOs in implementing Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the funds remained unutilized in their accounts.

Sources further civic amenities in the schools especially in Jammu have not been provided despite the fact that Chief Minister had already sanctioned Rs 20 lakh as special grant.

Committee constituted by the government has said that lack of coordination between the respective CEOs and higher officials in the education department was main reason for the delay in implementation of the plan.

“This was also the main reason for upholding the funds and head under which these funds had been kept along with the funds received from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India (GOI) from the very inception of the scheme till date and district-wise allocations made”, says the committee.

A report prepared by the Committee says that there are many such cases of gross violation in upgradation of schools in various districts.

The committee inquired about the total number of Computer Aided Leaning (CAL) Centers in the state, reason for the non-functioning and the appointment of teachers for running the these centres.

Sources disclosed that the department apprised the committee that the total number of CAL centres in the state was 484, and there was no need to appoint new teachers for the purpose because the teachers already appointed in the schools with basic knowledge of computers can run these centres.

Regarding the implementation of RMSA in the state, the government committee says that under the scheme one Headmaster, five Masters, One Daftri and one Lab Assistant was to be provided in every school, but now they have put up a condition that there should be specific subject teachers. Thereafter, the committee directed the Director, School Education to implement the said scheme within some particular time period.

Moreover the Director RMSA explained the committee that during 2009-10 and 2010-11 the department upgraded 96 and 182 Middle Schools to High Schools respectively.

When no agency was ready to take construction to those schools buildings at low sealing rates, the GOI decided to execute construction of these buildings through the Roads and Buildings Department.