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DEO Tulsi Das conducts a meeting with principals on Monday. (Bhola Prasad)
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Toilets are mandatory at all government high schools and heads of 63 such cradles in East Singhbhum have been asked to complete construction work of new lavatories as soon as possible.
District education officer Tulsi Das, at a review meeting in Golmuri on Monday, also sought data on existing toilets, if any, at these schools. The data — on whether the facilities can be used or need to be refurbished — will be compiled for another meeting that will plan further action to resolve the problem.
Monday’s meeting was a follow-up to the reminder from the HRD department based on a Supreme Court verdict last year that directed all states and Union Territories to ensure basic amenities, including toilets particularly for girl students, in every government-run school.
The directive, which was based on a petition filed by the Environment and Consumer Protection Foundation, is yet to be followed in the right earnest in Jharkhand. Let alone high school, most primary and middle schools too do not have toilets. The shame had had prompted the Jharkhand Education Project Council to send a proposal to the HRD.
However, East Singhbhum, for one, seems to be taking the matter seriously. “We have sought immediate details from schools. They will have to build toilets with development funds,” said Das.
Model questions
Among other things, the meeting also focused on model question papers for students who will appear for their matriculation in February 2013. The idea is to improve the success rate, which was 63.91 per cent this year.
A committee has prepared three sets of model question papers in each subject, which will be sent to schools for practice. Common dates will be finalised for mock tests that will help analyse strengths and weaknesses of students.
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