School which was razed down by builder has the management to blame for it and this is why

Pune: After the builder razed the building of National Children’s Academy School in Wadgaon Sheri to construct a residential complex, the education department has given time till June 30 and asked the school management to arrange for an alternate place where the school can function and warned that if they failed to do that, there would be police action.

Meanwhile, the school management which is at fault for not notifying parents of its plans has stopped classes up to Class VIII till June 30 and sought time for alternate space.
On Tuesday, only class IX and X classes took place in two small rooms and the management has sought time to arrange for a make-shift place for the school. However, angry over the management’s lethargic attitude towards the future of its students, the principal of the school Anjana Deshmukh alleged that after education officers have come and started investigation, the management has decided to erect a tin shade in the open space where the school can function. According to Deshmukh, the space would not be safe in the rains. “It is just not about the present condition. I have been telling the management about the abysmal condition of the school, but nobody was ready to pay any attention,” she said.

She said that it is as far as the Right to Education Act, the school does not comply with a single norm under the act and there were no basic facilities like toilets for students, proper ground, security fencing, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which is compulsory under RTI. “I have been telling the school management to work on these issues, but they never pay any attention. I have even told the education department to take action against us, but not a single official from the education department has come to inspect the condition in which students are studying,” she said. She said that apart from the students issues, the teachers do not get paid properly as teachers are paid a meagre Rs 3,000-4,000. Vishakha Gaikwad, a social worker in the area, said that several times she had visited the school in the past and found the students were facing a lot of issues.
“I have been complaining to the management to improve the condition as studying in the such bad conditions was always dangerous for students,” she said.

Swati Bagal, one of the parents, said that though the management is now acting, however if the alternate place is not suitable for the students, they will not send their kids to school and will start an agitation.
“We are with the principal and other teaching staff, who have been doing great work in such conditions and if the management fails to provide adequate space, they will teach them a lesson,” she said.
Commissioner (education) S Choklingam said that they have given the school management time till June 30 and asked them to arrange for an alternate place where the school can function.
He said that meanwhile, they will notify the charity commissioner of the city to take action on the management of school which belongs to Vidya Vikas Mandal Trust as the trust is registered with the charity commission.
“If they do not comply and fail to look for better place, we will take police action against them and there is a provision in the RTI stating noone can keep students away from taking education, which is there right,” he said.