Delhi Schools violating RTE norms: Survey Report

Provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act are being violated in various government educational institutions in the Capital, said a report released by non-government organisation Child Rights and You (CRY) and its alliance partners here on Monday. It noted "several infrastructural gaps in schools".

The study was conducted in six districts of Delhi and covered 131 schools. As per the Act, there should be 40 students in a single classroom, but the study notes that 80-120 children were made to sit in a single classroom.

"The ideal student-teacher ratio is 40:1, but it is not maintained in the corporation and government schools because there have been no new appointments since the inception of the Act," notes the report.

Non-availability of proper outdoor games facilities, teachers being hired on a contract basis and unhygienic conditions of toilets were the other major drawbacks noted during the study.

"Outdoor game facilities were not available in 28% schools. In West Delhi, 80% schools did not have the facilities. Whereas, in East and North-East half of the sample schools, did not have them at all. In South Delhi, 30% schools did not have outdoor game facilities", said the report.

"Also, indoor game facilities were absent in 28% schools. 24% schools did not have a library; 83% in East Delhi and 80% in West Delhi lacked this facility", the report added.

According to report, the unhygienic condition of toilets in government schools is one of the major causes behind children dropping out of school. Out of the schools covered in the survey, only 44% had clean toilets.

Denial of admission was another major issue observed during the survey.

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RTE.