Two-thirds of elementary schools without headmasters: Study

NEW DELHI: Two-thirds of the elementary schools in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are functioning without headmasters, a study has revealed.
    
States like Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka have no headmasters in over 65 per cent of schools.
    
Seventy per cent of schools in as many as seven states are without toilet facilities and 20 per cent elementary schools in over 10 states have no drinking water facilities, leaving children in pitiable condition for hours, the study said.
    
Arunachal Pradesh topped the list with more than 90 per cent of elementary schools running without a school head and 78 per cent schools without toilet facilities, it said.
    
The study, compiled by National University of Educational Planning and Administration based on the District Information System for Education data for 2007-08, was tabled in Parliament last week.
    
Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatmi had said in Parliament that 12.28 lakh teachers, 2.65 lakh toilets and 1.93 lakh drinking water facilities have been sanctioned under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan till date.
    
On the large vacant posts of headmasters, he said they are appointed by the state governments as per their rules and regulations.
    
According to a latest UNESCO report, India is at the 102nd position in the 'education for all development index' out of 129 countries.