Context :- 

The Parliamentary standing committee on Human Resource Development (HRD) report revealed that nearly half of the government schools in the country do not have electricity or playgrounds.

More details in the report

• In 2020-2021 demand for grants, there was a 27% cut from proposals made by the School Education Department in the Budgetary allocations.
• The panel expressed disappointment over the stark deficits in the government school infrastructure. Only 56% of schools have electricity, with the lowest rates in Manipur and Madhya Pradesh, where less than 20% have access to power. 
• As per UDISE survey, Less than 57% of schools have playgrounds, including less than 30% of schools in Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir. 
• It also came with a warning that the dismal rate of progress in building classrooms, labs and libraries to strengthen government higher secondary schools would alienate students from government schools.Out of 2,613 sanctioned projects for 2019-­20, only three had been completed in the first nine months of the financial year.In government higher secondary schools, out of 1021 sanctioned, not a single additional classroom had been built by December 31, 2019.Against sanctioned funds for 1,343 labs, only three laboratories had been built.In the case of libraries, art/craft culture rooms, none had been built yet despite a sanctioned target of 135 and 74 respectively.
• Overall, for the core Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the department had only spent 71% of revised estimates by December 31, 2019  

Recommendations

• It recommended a collaboration with MNREGS scheme and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in order to construct boundary walls, and to provide solar and other energy sources so that schools have access to power.
• The panel recommended that such central and centrally sponsored schemes (core schemes) which saw a reduction of 27% get additional funds at the revised estimates stage.

Critical Analysis of the report

1. A cut of 27% is a cause of concern, given the focus on reaping demographic dividend.
2. In Spite of being a founder leader of the International Solar Alliance, that lauds the virtues of photovoltaic electricity, India has not yet electrified a significant number of government schools.
3. As education falls under the concurrent list, the Centre operates its own schemes and sponsors several school education programmes covering the States, notably Samagra Shiksha and the Mid Day Meal scheme.
   1. The finding that read lack of electricity, playground, boundary wall, toilet facility for children with special needs show the low priority being accorded to the school education.

Road Ahead

• A mission made approach to ensure infrastructure in schools like that of a 100day programme for education that focused on part on training of schoolteachers and opening of central schools. Solar power can be installed in schools and toilets built for all students in 100 days.
• For playgrounds, as of now it can be relied upon community grounds until permanent arrangements are made.
• Community participation can make sure that the objectives are satisfactorily met.

Lastly, to usher in demographic dividend, it is necessary to allocate sufficient funds for school education as well as  efficient utilisation of it.  A public school system that guarantees universal access, good learning and all facilities has to be among the highest national priorities