Sirmaur: Lack of infrastructure in school exposed, DC sought action plan
Himachal Pradesh: To ensure better monitoring of educational institutions, Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sumit Khimta on Monday conducted a surprise inspection of Government Senior Secondary School, Jamta. During the visit, various deficiencies in the school were highlighted while reviewing the school facilities and pedagogical practices. The Deputy Commissioner inspected several aspects of the school, including the learning environment, student welfare, infrastructure and implementation of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme. He interacted with both teachers and students to gain insights about the quality of education being imparted and the various challenges faced by the school. During the discussion with the teachers, the DC emphasised the importance of providing holistic exposure to students, especially in rural areas where resources are often limited. The DC urged teachers to ensure that students are not left behind due to lack of proper guidance or learning opportunities.
He closely examined the functioning of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, which provides free lunch to school children to improve nutrition and attendance. The mid-day meal system was found to be functional, but the DC pointed out the need for improvement in the kitchen infrastructure to ensure hygienic and efficient preparation of food. Additionally, he conducted a thorough review of the school infrastructure. It was found that the school lacked classrooms and other essential facilities. The road leading to the school was also found to be in poor condition, making it difficult to reach the school especially in adverse weather conditions. Meanwhile, it was found that the quality of education in History subject was not up to the mark. Taking immediate cognizance of the issue, the Deputy Commissioner sought an explanation from the concerned lecturer.
He expressed disappointment over the poor quality of education despite the availability of teachers of all subjects in the school and gave strict instructions to the school management to improve the quality of education being imparted to the students. In response to the concerns raised during the inspection, the DC issued directions to all Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Sirmaur district to conduct regular monthly inspections of health and educational institutions under their jurisdiction, so that such institutions can maintain consistent standards of service delivery. The DC assured the school authorities that funds will be allocated to improve the school infrastructure – construction of additional classrooms, renovation of the mid-day meal kitchen and repair of the nearby road. The financial assistance is expected to significantly enhance the learning environment and overall accessibility. In addition, the school management has been directed to submit an action plan to address the issues identified during the inspection. Follow-up reviews are also expected to be conducted in the coming months.
