Chandigarh: Exposing the claims of Punjab government to transform the government schools into smart ones, around 54% government schools in Punjab don’t have internet facilities. Around 27% smart schools are also sans the internet connection, figures furnished by the union ministry of education reveals.
The ministry released the figures on Monday in response to state-wise details sought in Parliament by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, BJP MP from Saran constituency.
According to the ministry, there are total 19, 259 government schools in Punjab, including primary, middle and senior secondary schools, and out of it only 9013 have access to the internet. Even out of 12219 schools, which offer facilities of smart classes, 3, 206 are without internet.
A primary school teacher pleading anonymity said, “We have to upload various types of information, including registration of students, Mid-Day-Meal, details of scholarships, status of government scheme and Infrastructure, at websites and portals of the state and central government and it requires a facility of the internet. Besides, it is also impossible to use the infrastructure of smart classes without the internet.”
State president Teachers’ Democratic Front (DTF) Vikram Dev Singh said, “Government is emphasising on converting schools into smart schools but what is the meaning of smart schools if there is no internet facility of internet. There is a need for internet connections at all schools.”