BJP-ruled MCD lying about increase in student numbers in South MCD schools to get funds; all of it indicates a massive scandal: Saurabh Bhardwaj
BJP is dubiously claiming an increase of almost one lac students in MCD schools while it is on the verge of shutting down 29 schools: Saurabh Bhardwaj
MCD School Teachers’ Association Chief Kuldeep Khatri himself rubbished the claims of the BJP and said that schools are merged only when the number of students declines: Saurabh Bhardwaj
Kejriwal Government brought in an education revolution in Delhi, built 20,000 new classrooms; BJP-ruled MCD has shut 100 schools destroyed the primary education system: Saurabh Bhardwaj
While the Delhi Government gets praised for transforming the face of public education globally, the BJP-ruled MCD gets ridiculed for the dilapidated state of its schools: Saurabh Bhardwaj
NEW DELHI:
BJP’s hypocrisy and lies have reached a new height with it shutting MCD schools while claiming an increase of around one lac students at the same time. AAP Chief Spokesperson and MLA Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj today stated – the BJP-ruled MCD is looting funds in the name of increased number of school students and exaggerating figures on paper. It is lying about the increase in student numbers in South MCD schools in order to get funds for facilities like midday meals, uniforms, books, and more. All of it indicates a massive corruption scandal. While South MCD is citing an increase of 93,000, we believe that many students have left MCD schools as a result of the dismal condition of these schools. Kuldeep Khatri, the head of MCD School Teachers Association said that the merger of schools proves that the increase of one lac in number of students is baseless. 29 schools are being shut in South MCD while it claims an increase of 93,000 students on paper. This figure is a doubtful, false claim. The Delhi Government added 20,000 classrooms since 2015, while MCD schools were reduced from 1,739 to 1,637. While the Delhi Government gets praised for transforming the face of public education globally, the BJP-ruled MCD gets ridiculed for the dilapidated state of its schools
Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “The BJP-ruled MCD is selling off property belonging to the people of Delhi – with the news of one or more coming in every other day. Today, a very crucial matter has come forth which raises many questions for the BJP-led MCD. It is well known that not just the whole country, but the entire world is discussing Delhi Government’s revolutionary change in its government schools. They are giving competition to private schools in every aspect – be it infrastructure, quality of education, teachers, 10th and 12th class results, and even qualification in competitive exams like NEET, where government school students are performing at par with private school students, if not better. At the same time, in the same city, the MCD is failing to fulfil its responsibility to provide primary education for nursery to 5th class. The primary schools are run by the MCD.”
He added, “We have received shocking news about the South MCD – that it is shutting down 29 schools in its area. Further, it is merging the students from these 29 schools into other remaining schools. This will obviously affect the student-teacher ratio. Now that they are shutting 29 schools, the question arises whether the number of students has gone down. However, South MCD claimed earlier this year that there has been an increase of 93,000 in their area as compared to last year. MCD had claimed that in this single session, it has seen an increase of 93,696 students. Regarding this, Kuldeep Khatri from MCD Teachers Association has raised a question that when there has been an increase of approximately one lakh students, how can the South MCD shut 29 schools?”
He further stated, “The Aam Aadmi Party poses an even bigger question to the BJP-ruled MCD today – what are the calculations done by the BJP that it said around 1 lakh students have increased in South MCD schools. Many MCD teachers have also pointed towards the reason behind this and it has been published in many news outlets. Head of MCDs Shikshak Nyay Manch Kuldeep Khatri said that the merger of schools proves the increase of 1 lakh in number of students as a hollow claim. School merger and transfer of teachers clearly indicates that the data regarding the increase in the number of students by one lakh is doubtful. School mergers are only done when the number of students in double shift schools reduces. Many other newspapers have also indicated the fact that the number of students has increased only on paper. Only the names and Aadhar cards of students have been updated in the records, but the number of students has not actually increased in schools. This entire situation points towards a massive corruption scandal.”
He went on to say, “This means that while 93,000 is the number the South MCD is citing, we believe that many students have left MCD schools as a result of the poor condition of these schools, teachers being on strike, teachers not getting paid, lack of midday meals, and more such reasons. Despite this, student data in MCD schools is being tampered with and the funds which are being received in the name of these students – for midday meals, ration, uniform, bags, books, and other facilities. All of this indicates a major corruption case, that in the MCD the number of students has been shown to increase on paper in order to get more funds. This rise in the number of students is highly dubious.”
Citing data about Delhi’s education system, Shri Bhardwaj said, “In 2015, Delhi Government had 24,115 classrooms. After this, 12,867 more classrooms were built. Aside from this 8,698 classrooms are being developed. This shows an increase of around 20,000 classrooms by the Delhi Government. So while the Kejriwal Government has increased the number of classrooms, schools are being shut and merged by the BJP-ruled MCD. In 2015-16, MCD schools had a total of 1,739 schools, which has now fallen down to 1,637 – so around hundred schools have been shut by the MCD indicating a decline in the number of students in these schools. Another type of figure we have is that in 2015, around 15.9 lac students were enrolled in Delhi’s government schools, which increased to 17.67 lac in 2021, i.e., a 17% increase in student enrollment. At the same time, the on paper figures, which are likely false and exaggerated, claimed by the MCD state that MCD schools in 2015 had 8.66 lac students which have now increased to 8.71, showing an increase of just 1%. I strongly believe that these figures are incorrect and that the number of students in MCD schools has only reduced. They are simply showing these figures to save face as elections are close and to loot and plunder in the name of students.”