The Rajasthan state education department has once again requested a detailed report on school infrastructure and dilapidated buildings requiring urgent repairs from district education officers, with a submission deadline of 15 days. All chief district education officers have been instructed to compile a consolidated list containing comprehensive details of all repair proposals received from school buildings and offices within their respective jurisdictions.
Priority for Extensive Repairs
According to an official order issued on May 14, proposals for schools needing extensive repairs should be prioritized, consolidated separately, and submitted first. The order explicitly states that any repair proposals submitted directly to the directorate by individual schools will not be considered under any circumstances.
Background of the Directive
Sources indicate that these proposals were requested after Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Yadav conducted a review meeting in Bikaner last week. During the meeting, Yadav asked officials whether they had personally visited schools to inspect actual conditions. Following this meeting, the new round of inspections was ordered.
An education department official said, "In the meeting, the ACS asked officials if they themselves had visited schools to inspect and check the actual condition. After the meeting, this new round of inspection has been ordered."
Inspection Duties for School Principals
The department has also ordered school principals to conduct inspections twice a week in schools where construction work is underway. An order issued by the Rajasthan Council of School Education (RCSE) states that construction works are being executed in various government schools, and the heads of these institutions play a pivotal role in various processes, including issuing work orders, entering into agreements with contractors, issuing notices to contractors, ensuring timely and high-quality execution of works, and processing payments.
Teachers' Opposition
While heads of institutions will be entitled to earned leave for days when they have to go for inspection, teachers have opposed the decision. Vipin Prakash Sharma, state president of the Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers' Association, said, "Given that the RCSE already has enough civil engineers to oversee construction activities, assigning monitoring duties to principals in such a context is unjust. This arrangement of giving earned leave will impose a financial burden on the government. Teachers lack expertise in construction matters, and with such orders, they are compelled to visit schools during this scorching heat. Such an order must be reconsidered."
Details Required for School Repair Proposals
The following details are mandatory for each repair proposal:
- Eligible schools: Government schools operating under the Department of Secondary Education only
- Must include:
- School name
- Proposed repair work (scope/details)
- Estimated cost (as suggested/recommended by a technical officer)
- Inventory listing: PWD inventory or Departmental inventory
- Ownership status: Government-owned or rented
- Year of inclusion in inventory (state/PWD or departmental, as applicable)
- Location category: Urban or rural
