Rajasthan High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of Poor Condition of School Infrastructure, Seeks Detailed Report

Notices Issued to Education Ministry, Child Welfare Officials, and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

Jaipur, 28 July : The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the deteriorating condition of school buildings and the lack of basic resources across the state. Acting on various media reports, the court issued notices to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Child Development, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Education), Principal Secretary (Child Welfare), and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, seeking their responses.

Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand, in a single-judge bench, ordered the case to be registered as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The court directed the Ministry of Education and the Chief Secretary to submit detailed information about the steps taken so far in this matter.

22% Schools in Dilapidated Condition, 31% with Cracked Walls

In its order, the court referred to a survey report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which covered over 26,000 schools across a dozen states, including Rajasthan. The report highlighted that 22% of schools are in a dilapidated condition, and approximately 31% have cracked walls.

The court observed, “A school is a place where the future is shaped. Effective learning and a safe environment are essential conditions.” Despite allocating 6% of the budget to education, around 32% of schools still lack electricity connections. According to sources in the Education Department, more than 50% of primary schools are operating without power.

Lack of Basic Facilities in Many Schools

The court noted that 9% of schools do not have access to drinking water, and 10% of girls’ schools lack toilets. Digital learning facilities are also insufficient, with only 57% of schools having computers and 53% having internet access.

The issue is not limited to government schools alone. The court also stated that many private schools lack essential infrastructure. Penalties have reportedly been imposed on 40,000 schools in the state for not providing accessible facilities for differently-abled students. Additionally, half of the schools do not provide essential physical education.

English Medium Conversion Faces Infrastructure Challenges

The High Court also addressed the previous government’s initiative of converting 3,737 Hindi-medium schools into English-medium schools to promote English education. However, five years later, the ambitious move is facing setbacks due to inadequate infrastructure, shortage of trained teachers, and declining student interest.

Call for Comprehensive Survey and Basic Provisions

The court emphasized that many districts are still far from achieving the goal of ensuring schools within close proximity. It reaffirmed that every child has the right to education in a safe environment. Referring to recent incidents of school roof collapses, the court described them as deeply distressing.

The court suggested that a comprehensive survey of all schools be conducted and that schools be made available in proportion to the population. It also proposed the provision of drinking water, toilets, and free sanitary napkins for girls in schools.