A government-run primary school in Kendrapara that is yet to be taken up under the Centre-funded reconstruction of school buildings project. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, May 12: Hit by bureaucratic red-tape, the pace of progress of the reconstruction of school building projects (RSBP) of government-run primary schools has left much to be desired in this coastal district.

Of the Rs 20.17crore central grant sanctioned during the last fiscal year, over Rs 6crore has not been spent.

The zilla parishad members, who are participating in the district monitoring committee, have also expressed displeasure over the poor performance of the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan here.

“The government-run primary education system is on the verge of breakdown in both the urban and rural parts of this district. Authorities have failed to constitute school management committees (SMC) in most of the schools here. Because of non-formation of the SMCs, there is absolutely none to assess academic activities of these schools such as daily classroom teaching. Quality of construction work under RSBP has also suffered because of the absence of the SMCs,” said zilla parishad members.

Nearly 700 government-run primary and upper-primary schools are running in this district without the mandatory SMC. Political interference is attributed to non-formation of these committees, which are envisaged as a checks and balance tool to bring about qualitative change in these educational institutions.

Funds associated with the RSBP have tuned out to be a bone of contention. As the SMC members are entitled to have a say in awarding contracts for reconstruction of school buildings, guardians and parents of school students are in stiff competition to make their way into the committees.

“As there have also been instances of outsiders sneaking into these committees under political interference, the school and mass education department has not accorded approval to the newly constituted committees,” said Gobinda Chandra Pati, district inspector of schools, Kendrapara.

Rajnagar MLA, Alekh Kumar Jena, speaking at the district monitoring committee meeting, said: “A sum of Rs 106crore has been allocated to the district for the current financial year for RSBP. But given the prevailing stalemate over the formation of the SMCs, in all likelihood, the central grant would not be utilised fully.” Jena expressed concern over the disintegration of primary education system in a backward region like Rajnagar.

“As most of this area is cut off from the mainstream, the higher authorities rarely conduct supervision and inspection of schools. As a result, regular teachers on permanent payroll of the government are often found skipping classes. At times, they are also engaging proxy teachers to teach on their behalf. Funds for the mid-day meal project and Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan are also being siphoned off,” he said.

The residential schools for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes were also wallowing in neglect. These institutions have also been denied the benefits of the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan, said Sipra Mallick, MLA of Kendrapara.

Cutting across party lines, the zilla parishad members expressed concern at the rising dropout rate in government-run primary schools and raised questions on the functioning of the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan in the district.

Pradipta Kumar Pattnaik, collector of Kendrapara, however, said: “The administration has resolved to streamline the primary education system. The erring teachers and officials of the school and mass education department would soon be taken to task.”