Govt School Dadasara in Shambles Runs in Dilapidated Building, Lacks Infrastructure
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VOLUME 02 ISSUE 03 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011 OF THE UNIVERSITY Ech FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY Govt school Dadasara in shambles Runs in dilapidated building, lacks infrastructure KOUSAR MOHI-UD-DIN ver y mor ning his sunken eyes fol low the creeping young sou ls entering the premises of this primar y school. Mere a glimpse of the kids relieves him of Ethe anxieties of old age. All he aspires now is a bright future for them. However, as he takes a look at the school bui ld- ing, an image of their gloomy future flashes across his eyes. It also reflects to him the admin- istrative negligence in providing education to the children. Muhammad Abdullah Rather, 70, is a retired teacher of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Primary School, located at Batipora Dadasara, a remote village at Tral area in south Kashmir’s Pul- wama district. He takes with a pinch of salt the gover nment claim of providing “quality” educa- tion to the children of poor families. “The school is literally in shambles. How- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Primary School at Dadasara Tral in Pulwama district. BILAL AHMAD KUCHAY/IUST ever, the concerned authorities do not pay heed to even its basic requirements. This makes me “The staircase inside the school is in such purposes. The school faculty comprises of just concerned about the future of its students,” a pathetic state that it can collapse anytime two permanent teachers, while one works on laments Rather while pointing towards the and cause a serious mishap,” says Nazir temporary basis. school building. Ahmad Rather, a parent. “It seems the Sports and recreational activities have virtu- Located on the edge of a river and surround- authorities are not concerned about the ally taken a backseat in the school due to the ed by thick canopies of walnut trees, this two- safety of our children.” absence of playground. “My kids do not enjoy storied sun-dried brick building lies in a pathet- studying here and often complain of boredom. ic condition. Broken window panes and cracked I wonder how my kids I have decided to cancel their admissions,” says mud wal ls coupled with inadequate in frastruc- Muhammad Amin Sheikh, a parent. ture are a stark reminder of what students of “I wonder how my kids would compete with government schools in villages are receiving would compete with students of rest of the valley, who are provided in the name of education. with ever y basic faci lity for lear ning,” exclaims Due to its inadequate infrastructure, most of students of rest of the Farooq Ahmad, another parent. the locals do not prefer to admit their wards in The parents seek intervention of higher this school. With the result, the roll of the school valley, who are authorities in the matter, “so that future of our has reduced from 92 in 2007 to 43 at present. children is secured.” The school building is believed to be over 80 provided with every The school staffers say they have time and years old. The school started operating in this again urged the concerned authorities to allot building on rent basis in 2003 under Sarva Shik- basic facility for a new building to the school, “but to no avail.” sha Abhiyan scheme. Denying the allegations, officials blame the “I was a kid at the time of its construction. This learning locals for “non-cooperation” with them. “Our building has borne the brunt of thousands of hands are tied, since we lack the possessive tenants, government offices, business establish- Inside the mud rooms, the students and their rights of the building,” Muhammad Hussain ments, households and what not,” reveals 9 0 -year- teachers have to bear with the dust pouring out Malik, Zonal Education Officer, Awantipora, old Khurshi Begum, proprietor of the building. from walls and roofs. “The dust not only affects told The Echo. This is not all. Location of the building is a our hea lth and hygiene, but a lso spoi ls our clothes,” “Plus we cannot use the land for construction huge concern. It is believed to fall in an earth- says Zahoor Ahmad, school Head Master. of new building or repair the existing structure quake zone. In fact, during October 8, 2 0 0 5 ear th- The school has only three rooms available unless owner of the bui lding gives us the per mis- quake, a por tion of the bui lding was dismant led for eight classes, from nursery to fi fth standard, sion,” he says, adding that locals have not shown and its walls developed cracks. whereas one room is meant for administrative any sign of cooperation in this regard. VOLUME 02 | ISSUE 03 | SEPTEMBER - OCtober 2011 DepArtmeNT OF JourNAlism ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY 2 OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Don’t rely on govt for jobs: Experts to youth BILAL AHMAD KUCHAY xperts at a seminar on career guidance advised Kashmiri youth not to rely solely on government jobs, but explore better career avenues. They emphasized the need for imbibing skills in young- Eer generation for setting up small-scale industries. They were speaking at one - day seminar on ‘Employ- ment G eneration P rospects : A Perspective for the Youth of Kashmir’ organized by Victor Force in collaboration with Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) on October 17. The purpose of the seminar was to apprise the students of the finest career opportuni- ties at global level. Retired Major General Pramod Saigal said in India, only less than 10 per cent people were employed by the gover nment, whereas more than 9 0 per cent people were involved in the private sector. “I want Kashmiri youth as well to concentrate on over 90 per cent job opportuni- ties,” he said. He said it was vital for the youth to imbibe skills for setting up industrial units. “So I want you to NAYEEM SHOWKAT KHAN said potter y cou ld become a good source focus on acquiring the skills that are needed in setting of employ ment in Kashmir, i f innovations up the industry,” he said. n an endeavor to aware Kashmiri were brought into it. He, however, lament- Earlier, General Officer Commanding of 15 Corps Lieu- traditional potters about innova- ed that art was declining fast and could tenant General Syed Ata Hasnain said such interactions tive desig ns of potter y, the Mantaqi become extinct in future, “if serious steps helped students pursue right career options. “The standard Centre for Science and Society, are not taken to preserve it.” of education in Kashmir is no doubt very high, but students IIslamic University of Science and Tech- The students of School of Business don’t find appropriate opportunities for jobs within and nology (IUST), organized a two-day Studies presented a marketing plan to outside Kashmir,” Hassnain said. workshop ‘Re-shaping Kashmir Pottery’ potters through PowerPoint presenta- “So we thought to channelize a l l the organizations involved on October 11-12. tions on second day of the workshop. They with youth, so as to bring people of repute from other par ts The workshop, held in the varsity, advised traditional potters to avail the of India to do career counseling in the valley,” he said, focused on reviving the skill and use of facility of new machinery. adding that their aim was to promote careers of different “The pottery products could be made interests. The pottery products marketable by giving them new decor Speaking on the occasion, columnist Aparna Srivastava and shape,” said Adnan Ali Khan, an Reddy talked at length on women empowerment. “Earlier could be made MBA student, who bagged first rank for in India, women were considered in ferior to men, but today his presentation. they are working in ever y field at par with them,” she said, marketable by giving A local potter, Mohammad Rajab, who adding that education is the main factor responsible for them new decor and possesses over 50 years’ experience of empowerment of women. shaping pottery, gave pottery making She asked the students to first choose their career, and shape demonstrations to the students. then work avid ly in that direction. “You shou ld get assig n- pottery. Various innovative designs of Earlier, welcoming the g uests, Coordina- ments voluntarily, be responsible and don’t give explana- pottery were unveiled on the occasion, tor Community Relations, Mantaqi Centre, tion of not doing any assignment,” she said. which are believed to make pottery prod- Shazia Sha fi, said the workshop was a par t Another speaker, Zubin Malothra, a career guide, talk- ucts more marketable. of the community development programmes ed about how to be successful in life. “Everyone possesses Studio Potter at Darashukon Center that were initiated by IUST. “It is an attempt a special talent. You should explore it and make it your for A r t and an ar t hobbyist, Dr Jyoti Singh, to get enlightened about the art of pottery career,” Malothra suggested to students. “Then you should demonstrated some innovative and inter- by Kashmiri potters,” she said. broaden your horizon, move outside for the knowledge and esting techniques on the occasion. She The workshop was also attended by education, which you cannot get in Kashmir and then come emphasized the need for modernizing for mer Vice Chancel lor I UST, P rof Siddiq back and apply it in your state,” he said. traditional potter y, “so as to make potter y Wahid, Registrar IUST, Prof Muhammad Among others present on the occasion were Vice Chan- items more saleable in the market.” She, Amin Masoodi, Director Physical Educa- cellor IUST, Prof A R Trag, Registrar IUST, Prof Muham- however, maintained that the art of tra- tion, Prof K A Tarzan, incharge Mantaqi mad Amin Masoodi, Mohamad Ayub Shah of Business ditional Kashmiri potters was Centre, Prof Fozia Qazi, besides IUST School, Kashmir University, and administration staffers unmatched.