Enrolment of students in Class I at government and aided schools saw a 23% dip last year, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said on Friday.
The number came down from 2,04,884 in 2010-11 to 1,56,911 in 2015-16. The overall enrolment, including that in private schools, also did not show much of an improvement. “No specific targets were fixed by the government or local bodies for enrolment of children,” the CAG observed.
Survey not done
The report also said that the Delhi government failed to complete the mandatory household survey for every child between 6 and 14 years, which serves the purpose of maintaining a database. This can then be linked to the mapping of schools to determine and establish neighbourhood schools.
“In the absence of such a database, it was not possible for the government to ensure enrolment… The government lacked effective planning for implementing the Right to Education Act in Delhi,” it read.
Delay in release of funds
The report also pointed out delays in release of funds to the ‘Universalisation of Elementary Education Mission’ (UEEM). However, a major portion of the funds released remains unutilised. “As against an approval of ₹1,115.72 crore, only ₹647.48 crore was made available to the UEEM during 2010-16. The UEEM spent only ₹534.29 crore,” the report added.
It also said that ₹18.29 crore sanctioned to the UEEM in 2015-16 for construction of additional rooms and toilets remained unutilised as of June 2016. Uniforms, text books and writing material were also not distributed to all students of the 34 selected corporation schools. In schools aided by the municipalities, the material had not been issued to any student.
The struggle to maintain a healthy student-teacher ratio also continues, the report pointed added.
Other loopholes
Though the government has created 9,500 new teaching posts, it is yet to induct permanent teachers.
Earlier this year, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said that a proposal to make many of the 17,000 guest teachers permanent was awaiting the L-G’s approval.
The report also said that only 90,262 children from the economically weaker section were admitted as against the 1,45,142 seats reserved for them.
