School survey may have some gaps

The findings of the survey will become part of the agenda of action for implementation of the RTE Act

The survey which is currently underway in the city as part of Shiksha Ka Haq Abhiyan, a nationwide programme which aims to create awareness about the provisions of the RTE Act, may not turn out to be a comprehensive one, with some Block Resource Training Educators (BRTEs) saying that they handed over the survey forms to the schools.

The survey which covers all schools in the state, including government, government-aided, and self-financing schools, is being done through volunteers identified by the district project co-ordinators of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The questionnaire covers aspects such as enrolment and attendance, infrastructure available, toilet and drinking water facility, among other aspects.

Impartial observers, in this case the volunteers, have to fill the forms through data available, as well as through observation discussion with students, teachers, school heads and members of the SMCs.

Four BRTEs who work across three zones in the city said that they handed over the forms to the school and gave three-to-four days’ time to fill them up. One of the volunteers said that before collecting the forms, however, they verify all the details.

“Since we visit the schools in our block often, we are familiar with its running. The students know us very well, we are aware of the infrastructure available, and would know if students are being discriminated against,” said another volunteer.

A BRTE who has 98 government, government-aided and schools run by the Chennai Corporation(Chennai Schools) and 142 self-financing schools in her zone said that her team visited three schools on an average everyday.

A principal of a private school in the city confirmed that the school was given the form, and was asked to fill it from start to end. When asked about this, A. Samantham, assistant project officer, Chennai District, said she would immediately look into the issue and issue a circular in this regard.

The SSA will complete the survey by August 15, officials said. The findings of this survey would go on become part of the agenda of action for the stakeholders involved and would be helpful in scrutinizing schools for adhering to norms specified by the Right to Education Act.