Parishad-run schools, but most could not be put to use

Parishad-run schools, but most could not be put to use
PRAFULLA MARPAKWAR

MUMBAI, FEB 27: When the erstwhile State Government embarked on a scheme to make learning in Zilla Parishad-run schools a brighter experience by providing them with television sets, little did they realise that the systems were still not in sync.

The Comptroller and Auditor General's office (CAG) checked the records from 1997 to 1999, and found several irregularities: 1,000 colour television sets turned out to be defective. Moreover, there were schools that out of transmission range, or those that quite simply did not receive electricity.

Under the Centrally-sponsored National Education Technology Programme launched in 1993-94, the State Government had sanctioned Rs 10.40 crore, including the Centre's share of Rs 7.80 crore for the purchase of 8,000 colour television sets for primary schools run by Zilla Parishads.

The objective of the scheme was to use television as an educational tool to integrate students from varying geographical, social and cultural backgrounds. The funds sanctioned for the purpose were entrusted to the Pune-based State Institute of Education Technology (SIET).

The institute set up a high-level committee to supervise the scheme as well as the purchase of television sets, their distribution and installation to the schools selected. As per the Centre's guidelines, only schools within the transmission range, with a minimum of two teachers, two permanent rooms and an electricity connection were eligible.

Following the committee report, the SIET entrusted the task of selection of schools, installation and maintenance of television sets to the District Educational Officers. While the number of television sets to be purchased was decided in March 1993, the schools were identified in July 1993. The SIET invited tenders and accepted the offers of two firms for supply of 8,000 sets at the rate of Rs 1,2738 each.

The CAG report shows that in 42 schools in Thane district, there was no electricity, in 246 schools, the sets could not be put to use since the schools were located beyond the transmission range, 162 sets were found to be defective, while 70 sets were not used because there were no boosters to operate them.

Television sets provided to schools in Sindhudurg, the home district of former chief minister Narayan Rane, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Aurangabad, Raigad and Satara were for some reason not put to use.

``From the CAG report it is clear that the District Educational Officers who were entrusted with the task of selecting the schools failed to carry out their duty judiciously. Otherwise, they would not have selected such schools in Thane district where there was no power,'' a senior official said.

The official said following the CAG report, an enquiry has been ordered against the erring District Educational Officers for dereliction of duty.