Mumbai: Mumbai suburban guardian minister Ashish Shelar has directed the school education department to fill 89 vacant posts of education inspectors. The decision comes in the aftermath of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists inspecting govt and local body-run schools in the state.Shelar on Monday held a meeting with the concerned officials of state govt and BMC to review infrastructure, educational quality, student safety and available facilities in all schools across Mumbai city and suburbs. He also conducted a detailed review of the system for regular inspection and monitoring of school facilities to ensure students have access to a quality and safe educational environment.Last week, activists visited a temporary civic school in Colaba and highlighted its poor infrastructure.CJP convener Abhijeet Dipke visited a zilla parishad primary school in Ausa, Latur, last week. He alleged illegal activities were taking place on the school premises, where liquor bottles were allegedly found.Dipke alleged the school lacked drinking water and its toilets had been cleaned shortly before his arrival. An FIR was registered against him for unauthorised entry and for threatening teachers.“Students across schools are becoming vocal and demanding accountability, and it is the govt’s duty to deliver. Last week, during a visit to the Colaba Market municipal school, we found expired fire extinguishers, no sanitary pads were available, and nursery children were without a dedicated classroom. Worse, 90 students were packed into a single classroom. While we welcome any steps the govt takes now, this work should have started long ago,” said Samya Korde, president of the Progressive Students Union.A total of 505 secondary schools in BMC area have been approved by state govt, including 240 in the eastern suburbs and 265 in the western. Only 15 education inspectors and assistant education inspectors are currently available to inspect their physical facilities, while 18 posts are vacant.Similarly, there are 1,132 primary schools run by BMC and 1,000 aided and unaided private schools, making a total of 2,132. Only 11 divisional inspectors are responsible for inspecting the physical facilities of these schools, while as many as 71 posts are vacant.Physical facilities such as toilets, school buildings, classrooms, electricity, water supply and safety arrangements, among 10 different parameters, are inspected every three years by the concerned officials of BMC and state govt.However, it came to light at Monday’s meeting that 89 posts of inspectors are vacant, which would impact the overall educational system. Shelar also emphasised the need to establish an effective system of regular inspections, reporting and prompt corrective action to ensure there are no shortcomings in school infrastructure, safety is never compromised, and every school has all essential basic facilities.
