Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas
- 13 Aug 2024
In August, 2024, a recent NCERT evaluation reveals significant issues in 254 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), including fund mismanagement, infrastructure problems, and staff shortages.
Key Points
- Challenges Identified: The NCERT’s third evaluation of KGBVs, following previous reviews in 2007 and 2013, exposes challenges such as lack of transparency in fund use, weak infrastructure, and insufficient staffing.
- Non-Functional Schools: Out of 5,639 approved KGBVs, 4,260 are fully operational, 799 partially functional, and 580 non-functional as of June 30, 2023.
- High numbers of non-functional schools are concentrated in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
- Staffing Issues: Nearly 44% of teachers have less than five years of experience, and 58% commute from distant locations rather than staying on campus.
- Student Safety Concerns: The report reveals that 65.6% of girls did not respond about safety; of those who did, one-third felt unsafe.
- Infrastructure and Facilities: Many KGBVs have inadequate facilities, with shared beds and insufficient heating in some locations. Issues with boundary walls and security measures were also noted, though some schools have implemented sanitary napkin provisions and CCTV installations.
- Fund Allocation and Utilisation: Between 2018-19 and 2021-22, there were significant discrepancies in fund utilisation, with only ₹32.57 crore of ₹4,443.13 crore allocated for KGBVs being used in 2019-20.
- Recommendations for Improvement: The report suggests updating the criteria for economically backward blocks, opening new KGBVs in unserved and aspirational districts, and enhancing funding mechanisms to address these challenges effectively.
