Task force skips inspection of 36,000 govt schools located in remote areas

Lucknow: The task force meant for supervision of academic activities and health related schemes in primary schools has not carried out inspections in over 36,000 schools in last six months, shows a basic education department report.The department has set a target of 1.4 lakh schools that were to be inspected in six months from September 2020 to March by the task force.
In its report, the MDM authority stated that on examining the inspection details on the Prerna portal, it is seen that schools located near district, tehsil and block headquarters and those on main streets are being inspected by the task force. Schools lying in interiors are being left out. As a result, the department is unable to get a clear and real picture of the activities happening in schools situated in rural areas, pointed out the MDM Authority.
The district-level task force headed by the district magistrate and 11 members excluding the basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) inspected 1lakh schools out of 1.4 lakhs (fixed by the education department) in the past six months. Over 36,000 schools, mostly in remote areas were untouched by the task force.
As per the report, 49% schools in Agra and 45% schools in Shravasti were not inspected during the six months’ period. In Kushinagar and Pratapgarh, no inspection has been carried out in 42% schools, while in Kanpur Dehat, 40% schools were deprived of any physical inspection by the task force. In districts like Hapur, Varanasi, Baghpat, Basti, less than 5% schools have not been inspected.
Set up at district and block level, the task force, otherwise aimed at constant surveillance of MDM scheme, was mandated with inspecting activities such as distribution of textbooks, bags, uniforms and to ensure MDM food security allowance reaches children in times of Covid-19 pandemic.
The education department may not have been serving the mid-day meal due to school closure, but children, on directives of the central government, are being given MDM food security allowance since the lockdown. “Inspections were to ensure that allowance reaches the families and other activities are carried out properly,” said an official.
Post the analysis, director, MDM authority, Vijay Kiran Anand has written to DMs to enhance participation in inspection of schools in remote areas so that quality of activities is not compromised.