Rajasthan: Education Dept orders demolition of dilapidated school buildings

Jaipur, July 7 (IANS) The Rajasthan School Education Department has directed officials across the state to take immediate action against unsafe school infrastructure, making it clear that there will be no compromise on student safety.

Additional Chief Secretary (School Education) Rajesh Yadav has instructed all District Education Officers to ensure the demolition of school buildings declared dilapidated as a priority and to strictly prohibit classes from being conducted in such structures.

Chairing a review meeting at the Education Complex auditorium on Tuesday, Yadav stressed that students must not be made to study either in unsafe buildings or in the open.

He directed officials to make immediate alternative arrangements to ensure uninterrupted and safe education wherever school buildings have been declared unsafe.

Yadav said the department is conducting a statewide survey of dilapidated school buildings in compliance with court directions. Based on the survey findings, necessary action will be taken to ensure that students are provided with a secure learning environment.

During the meeting, the department reviewed the progress of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Swami Vivekananda Government Model Schools, PM JANMAN, special category schools, the State School Standards Authority (SSSA), and various civil infrastructure projects. Yadav directed officials to ensure the time-bound completion of all pending works.

RSCERT Director Shweta Phagaria briefed the meeting on the proposed establishment of the SSSA under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, highlighting the workshops conducted so far and the progress made.

State Project Director and Commissioner Rashmi Sharma advised officials to study SSSA models adopted by other states and incorporate best practices while developing Rajasthan’s framework. She emphasised the need to create a transparent, effective, and quality-driven school standards system applicable to both government and private schools.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the School Education Department, including Additional State Project Director Ashok Kumar Meena, as well as representatives from various departmental wings.

–IANS

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