Only 18.7% schools have own buildings

As the most coveted international sports event – 30th Summer Olympics in London –   celebrates its ceremonial opening function, closer home in Ahmedabad, only 25% schools have their own playground! If schools take pride in encouraging students for sports, it is a serious reminder to all of them that just 52.3% schools in Gujarat have their own playground.

A serious infrastructural lacuna seen in Gujarat schools, only 45% of them have their own building. Surprisingly, Ahmedabad stands no better on this count as just 18.7% city schools have their own school buildings. As per sources in the education board, “The government is not sensitive when it comes to school infrastructure. Government should be more serious on this issue.”

Out of 12,592 schools across Gujarat, only 5,701 schools have their school building. “School building on rent is very common in our state. Though the government is working on infrastructure, it will take minimum 5-7 years to meet half the present infrastructural requirement,” said a source in the education board.

However, even the four walls that define a school building come at a price. A striking percentage of just 67% schools in the state have a defined compound wall. “About 8,507 of 12,592 schools have compound walls. We are working towards improving this percentage in our favour,” said an official.

As per sources, Ahmedabad won’t see better infrastructure for next seven years. Out of 27 cities in the state, each city school is facing the same problem.