CHHAPRA: Much before Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal introduced the ‘odd-even’ car transport system that ended up decongesting roads in the national capital, the Bihar education department had been using this formula for rationing space in schools.
A number of government schools in the state are run either in different shifts or on alternate days. Some of these even schedule different timings for boys and girls. All because of inadequate infrastructure.
Among such schools is the MD High School at Kanhouli on NH-101 near Baniapur in Saran. This institute runs classes for boys and girls on alternate days. There are other school buildings in Chhapra, either on rent or with their own premises. Some of these buildings are used for running different schools in shifts.
These schools have roughly equal number of girls and boys. Students of both genders attend only half the session. But an unfazed school administration claims it covers the entire syllabus during this period.
When contacted, Saran district education officer Awadhesh Bihari said, “Shortage of classrooms and more than 3,000 students on the school rolls are the main reasons behind taking classes on alternate days.” He said the headmaster has been directed to submit proposals for the construction of additional classrooms.
“Many schools are facing shortage of rooms and we are trying to improve the situation. We have separate time tables for students. If students of one school attend classes in the morning, those of the other school come in the afternoon. We expect things will start improving,” he added.
“It’s a fine example of ‘odd-even’ system to decongest schools,” said a teacher who did not want to be named.
The kids do not mind this in the least as it gives them just three school days a week, with Sundays closed for everybody including teachers.
H K Verma | TNN | Feb 10, 2016, 08.58 AM IST
