Chandigarh: Haryana will rebuild around 700 dilapidated govt school buildings within a year, set up computer labs in 719 model schools and enlist volunteers for teaching through a dedicated portal, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Tuesday.Chairing a review meeting of the school education department, Saini directed officials to expedite the tendering process and ensure quality construction and install rooftop solar systems on new buildings.The CM also launched the ‘Swamsevak Shikshak Registration Portal’ to engage retired teachers, ex-servicemen, senior-class students and other willing individuals in voluntary teaching. A district-level committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner, with a DSP as a member, will scrutinise registrations and select eligible volunteers.Haryana has 14,297 govt schools, including 719 model schools. Saini directed that each model school be equipped with an ICT lab with at least 10 computers within the current year. HARTRON has been asked to expedite procurement.The CM also ordered drinking water quality tests in all govt schools and directed officials to identify institutions where supplies fail to meet prescribed standards. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems will be installed wherever required.To speed up school improvement works, the finance department has been directed to release Rs 1 crore to each district. A portal will track progress, with officials reviewing works monthly, while Saini will review progress every three months.He also directed officials to find permanent solutions to waterlogging in school premises, including rainwater harvesting, and remove high-tension electricity wires passing over school buildings. Sports equipment is to be procured and supplied to schools on priority.The review covered vacant teaching posts, sanitation workers’ contracts, a separate cadre for non-teaching duties and pending medical, and leave travel concession bills of teachers.Officials informed the meeting that 10.4 lakh saplings had been planted under a statewide drive involving 13,126 schools, 11.7 lakh students, and 74,419 teachers.Principal secretary, school education, Vijay Singh Dahiya said the state’s model-school network includes CM-EEE schools, PM SHRI schools and Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary Schools, with infrastructure upgrades and digital learning facilities underway.
