Despite the claim of Central Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) that it has achieved 100% target completion of construction of separate toilets for boys and girls in government schools under Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan during the year 2015, a government middle school (GMS) under SSA in Kohima still had no separate toilets for boys and girls.
When this Correspondent visited the school, it was found that there were only two shared toilets and that too one was on the verge of collapse.
Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan is an initiative to ensure that all government schools in the country have separate toilets for boys and girls.
During a visit to another GMS in Kohima, under department of school education, this correspondent found two toilets — one for boys and one for girls. However, the toilets have been constructed near nullah without putting fence around, which posed threat to school children. Teachers of the school rued that two toilets were not sufficient for a total 191 students of the school (from class A to VIII).
One of the teachers said girl students during menstruation had to be sent home because of the lack of proper water facility in the school.
It may be pointed out that as per National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) report 2014-15, among the schools not having toilet facility for girls, Kohima ranked highest with 8 schools, followed by Mon with 6 schools and Zunheboto 3 schools.
Among schools without toilet facility for boys, Mon topped with 142 schools, Kohima 8 schools and Phek 4 schools.
Meanwhile, during the visit to above GMS school in Kohima under SSA, one teacher on the condition of anonymity told Nagaland Post that the school had not received textbooks from class I-IV for the current academic year.
It was informed that even the uniforms (materials) were distributed without stitching and there was no kitchen and cook-cum-helper for Mid Day Meal (MDM), while pulses and condiments were not provided.
One of the oldest GMS in Kohima established on 1954 under department of school education also lacked basic facilities such as cook-cum-helper for MDM, textbooks of some subjects, water supply, pulses and condiments, safe drinking water, stationeries.
Teachers informed that there was only one science and maths teacher for class V-VIII. They also said there were no computer teacher and functional computer in the school though there was syllabus on computer subject.
Lamenting over distribution of unstitched uniforms to students, teachers said the cost for stitching put burden on students especially coming from financially weak families.
They pointed out that as per the guidelines of SSA free uniforms and books should be provided to students.
The teachers also informed that the school had not received school grant for management of the school and MDM was not provided to the students on daily basis.