Cloud over clean drive in schools: Jagatsinghpur
JAGATSINGHPUR: Non-cooperation of parents has cast a cloud over the decision of Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority to observe Swachhata Pakhwada (cleanliness fortnight) in Government-run schools from September 1 to 15 as per the directive of Ministry of Human Resources Development.
With parents and guardians raising an objection to teachers engaging their children in cleaning toilets, classrooms and school premises, successful implementation of the 15-day cleanliness drive seems unlikely.On Monday, members of Jagatsinghpur Primary School Teachers’ Association said teachers are facing the wrath of parents for engaging students in cleanliness activities. There is an acute shortage of sweepers and peons in primary schools of the region and in such a situation, it is not possible to carry out the cleanliness drive, said Tulasi Mohapatra, a member of the association.
Each primary school has two to four latrines and urinals. Moreover, weed and unwanted vegetation cover the school premises during the rainy season. While there is no cleaning staff, teachers are being harassed by parents and guardians if children are asked to clean the school surroundings, said Arabinda Senapati, a teacher.In accordance with the Right to Education Act, students are prohibited from doing any form of manual work. Asking children to clean toilets is unlawful and is an act of infringement of child rights. Taking advantage of this norm, parents and even authorities of School and Mass Education Department are harassing the teachers, said Gopinath Padhi, a member of the teachers’ body.
On Friday, a guardian of a student of Nehru Memorial UP school of Jota village under Salijanga panchayat of Jagatsinghpur block raised an objection to engage his son and other children in cleaning toilets and demanded stern action against the headmaster and other teachers.
Binoda Biswal, another association member, said unless there is a change in the policy, fate of teachers, as well as different Government programmes, will be at stake. In such a scenario, the formation of sanitation committee in schools is totally meaningless, he added.
Sarpanch of Salijanaga Puspanjali Jena said while the infrastructure in primary schools has been developed, there is lack of cleaning staff which has compounded the miseries of the teachers. The Government should provide an adequate number of sweepers and peons or else it will be difficult to carry out different programmes in the primary schools, Jena added.
Admitting that there is a shortage of cleaning staff, Block Education Officer Bijaylaxmi Dash said 90 per cent of primary schools have no peon or sweeper as a result of which teachers are forced to engage students in cleanliness activities.