Education dept to take up repairs of Bhati school

PANJIM, AUG 25
The education department has stated that urgent maintenance and repairs will be carried out at the Government Primary School at Bhati-Sanguem.
Responding to a Herald report highlighting the condition at the Government Middle School at Bhati, the Education Department clarified that Std VI students were not attending classes in a bathroom, but admitted that they were studying in a storeroom.
In a press note released through the Department of Information and Publicity, the education department stated that “the estimate of Rs 6,24,830 for the work of urgent maintenance and repairs of GPS Bhati, Sanguem is received from the Executive Engineer Div XIV (Bldgs). The administrative approval and expenditure sanction order is issued for the same on August 9.”
“The GMS Bhati has two school buildings and the school is functioning in two shifts. During the morning session, Stds V, VI & VII are attending the classes and in afternoon session students of Stds I, II, III & IV are attending the classes.”
“One of the school building which is 30 years old needs major repairs. The school is included in the list submitted to the GSIDC for construction of new building,” stated the press note.
The department stated that PWD engineers had visited the school premises and after inspection, had instructed the headmaster of the school not to conduct the classes in the building which needs urgent repairs.
“As per instructions, the headmaster of the school called the meeting of PTA members, which decided to house Std VI students in the room which was used as a storeroom.”
“The storeroom has half-fitted walls tiles, but there is no tap connection in that room and hence, it is not a bathroom,” the press note added.
The education department also denied claims that students of different classes were made to sit in the same place.
“The students are made to study in the second building which is partitioned by using cupboards. Hence, it is not correct to state that they sit together jointly. They attend the classes in a classroom which is partitioned,” the press note stated.
Acting on a report from the ADEI on February 19 that the other school building is not in good condition and needs minor repairs, the education department had requested the Executive Engineer PWD Div. XVI to visit the school and prepare the estimate.
“The estimate of Rs 6,24,830 for the work of urgent maintenance and repairs of GPS Bhati, Sanguem is received from the Executive Engineer Div XIV (Bldgs) and the administrative approval and expenditure sanction order is issued for the same on August 9, 2010,” the education department said.