KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Much to the embarrassment of the Department of Education, Zonal Education Officer Block Langate has “allegedly” permitted a blue-eyed political worker to operate his private school from a tin-shed. More than 100 students up to 5th primary have been receiving education in Shaheen Public School located at Thukarpora Kralgund area of Langate Block in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. In the middle of the paddy fields a tin shed has been constructed to accommodate the little students.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that every day, shortly after breakfast, more than 100 noisy and eager-eyed kids, coated in dust from top to toe, troop into this mud tin-cowshed. The shed is no larger than the average city garage; the little kids squeeze together, knee-to-knee, on the dirt floor.
The proprietor of the school proudly proclaim this hovel to be a “school,” although the pupils have no tables, chairs, shelves, maps or wall charts — let alone water coolers or lunch boxes. “I have been running this school with the consent of Directorate of School Education. ZEO Langate Block has given me formal permission to run this school. I have secured the services of five teachers and from each student we charge Rs 150 monthly fee,” proprietor of the school said.
Zonal Education Officer Langate Abdul Rashid said that the matter has already been brought into his notice and he will close down the school in few days, while Chief Education Officer said it is a sorry state of affairs and he will take a final call on the issue in coming days.
