Punjab: The government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure maximum enrolment in government schools, as teachers have been asked not to refuse admission to any student. Though facilities such as infrastructure in the form of smart classes, projectors and more classrooms are available, hundreds of schools running in congested areas of the city are without playgrounds. According to the Integrated District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), there are around 200 government schools in the district that do not have proper playgrounds. In many such primary and senior secondary schools, outdoor sports activities have been left behind. For instance, Government Primary School, Phullanwal; Government Senior Secondary School, near Division No. 3; Government Primary School, near Dad, and many other schools running from gurdwaras or other places do not have playgrounds for students. District Education Officer (DEO), Primary, Ravinder Kaur said there is no provision for outdoor sports activities in schools running in congested areas.
The DEO said, “Even the government cannot do anything about it as there is no scope for expansion.” A parent of a child studying in a government primary school in Basti Jodhewal, on the condition of anonymity, said the school is on the main road and there are a lot of commercial activities going on there. “The school is in a small building with just a few rooms. We are labourers and we have enrolled our child in a nearby school, but my child always complains that there is no space to play. He asks me to shift him to a school with a playground, but we cannot afford it.” Managements of schools running in congested areas say they are not as lucky as institutions located in the outskirts of the city, where plenty of land is available for sports activities. “Almost all schools in various blocks on the outskirts of the city have playgrounds due to the availability of adequate land. Students are sent out to play when they get free time. But this facility is not available for students in schools located in city areas,” said teacher Gurpreet Singh.
