Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123053530400.htm

New Delhi

650 Delhi Government schools to be upgraded

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

‘In all, there are 1,162 schools operating in two shifts’

‘An average of about Rs.1 crore would be spent on every school’
Directorate of Education has engaged DSIIDC and PWD for upgradation

NEW DELHI: Upgrading of the existing school infrastructure and concentrating on providing formal education to the large number of out-of-school children of migrant labourers working in the Capital are going to be two priority areas of Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely in the days to come.

Talking to The Hindu on Monday, Mr. Lovely said that in his second stint now as Education Minister he would be trying to make all the existing schools better in terms of facilities.

“In all, there are 1,162 schools operating in morning and evening shifts. As per our endeavour, we would be taking a total of about 650 premises for up-gradation,” he said.

Already in East Delhi, North-East Delhi and North-West Delhi, he said, such works were on in about 202 existing schools and works ranging from minor repairs to new construction were under way. With the total cost of these works being around Rs.200 crore, an average of about Rs.1 crore would be spent on every school.

To upgrade and improve the existing infrastructure, the Directorate of Education has engaged the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation and the Public Works Department. Under the project, additional rooms are being constructed, hazardous constructions being demolished, and provisions of fire safety, double doors in each class, fire alarms and wide school gates are being made. Also, drinking water facilities are being created, electrical systems being refurbished, classrooms being provided green boards, effective ventilation and light and are being painted in bright colours. The toilet facilities and playgrounds are also being improved.

Noting that all this would make Delhi’s schools among the best in the country, Mr. Lovely said there was no dearth of schools in the city and the problem was that people want their wards to be admitted to only 25 select schools, which ironically do not figure very high on merit but have become status symbols.

“We have 1,162 government schools, 350 government-aided schools, about 1,500 public schools, nearly 2,000 primary schools and a number of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Schools. There is no child who goes without admission in Delhi,” he said. However, as the children of migrant labourers still form a big chunk of those out of school, Mr. Lovely said through non-government organisations efforts would be made to provide them formal education as well.