<p>In a clear violation of rules, municipal corporation-run primary schools in the city function only for half a day on the last working day of every month. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Some councillors have raised objections to the practice, saying it is against corporation rules and alleging that the violation is also leading to bungling under the midday meal scheme. <br /><br />“Unlike Delhi government, which has officially declared the last working day of every month in its schools as a holiday, the management of the schools run by the corporation are unofficially conducting business only for half of the day,” said R K Bansiwal, Bharatiya Janata Party councillor from Bhalaswa Jahangirpuri. <br /><br />Bansiwal is also the deputy chairman of the high-powered education committee of North Delhi Municipal Corporation. He raised the issue in the education committee’s meeting on Tuesday. <br /><br />The councillor sought a reply from senior officials of education department, on whether the practice was being followed on directions from the department heads and if an official circular has been issued. <br /><br />Though officials refused to go on record immediately over any circular, they accepted that the schools do close after noon on the last day of the month. <br /><br />“Since the school staff have to make a monthly report, they close the school after noon.<br /><br />However, I would look into the matter,” Deepak Hastir, additional commissioner of North Delhi Muncipal Corporation said. <br /><br />The BJP councillor alleged that the practice is helping some to fleece the corporation under the midday meal scheme.<br /><br /> “While the students leave the school by noon, the NGOs providing food under the midday meal scheme still raise the bills for the day. If the staff require time to make a monthly report, they should officially declare the day as a holiday,” said Bansiwal. <br /><br />According to an estimate, about eight lakh students study in the primary schools run by the three municipal corporations. The North Corporation alone has a strength of over 3.5 lakh students. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the chairman of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), S S Yadav said no instructions have been given to the schools to close early, and no such case has come before him. <br /><br />“The last working day has to be like any other working day. However, some principals do organise a Bal Sabha in the second half of the last working day. During the session, extracurricular activities like painting, drawing and music are conducted for the students,” said Yadav.<br /></p>
<p>In a clear violation of rules, municipal corporation-run primary schools in the city function only for half a day on the last working day of every month. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Some councillors have raised objections to the practice, saying it is against corporation rules and alleging that the violation is also leading to bungling under the midday meal scheme. <br /><br />“Unlike Delhi government, which has officially declared the last working day of every month in its schools as a holiday, the management of the schools run by the corporation are unofficially conducting business only for half of the day,” said R K Bansiwal, Bharatiya Janata Party councillor from Bhalaswa Jahangirpuri. <br /><br />Bansiwal is also the deputy chairman of the high-powered education committee of North Delhi Municipal Corporation. He raised the issue in the education committee’s meeting on Tuesday. <br /><br />The councillor sought a reply from senior officials of education department, on whether the practice was being followed on directions from the department heads and if an official circular has been issued. <br /><br />Though officials refused to go on record immediately over any circular, they accepted that the schools do close after noon on the last day of the month. <br /><br />“Since the school staff have to make a monthly report, they close the school after noon.<br /><br />However, I would look into the matter,” Deepak Hastir, additional commissioner of North Delhi Muncipal Corporation said. <br /><br />The BJP councillor alleged that the practice is helping some to fleece the corporation under the midday meal scheme.<br /><br /> “While the students leave the school by noon, the NGOs providing food under the midday meal scheme still raise the bills for the day. If the staff require time to make a monthly report, they should officially declare the day as a holiday,” said Bansiwal. <br /><br />According to an estimate, about eight lakh students study in the primary schools run by the three municipal corporations. The North Corporation alone has a strength of over 3.5 lakh students. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the chairman of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), S S Yadav said no instructions have been given to the schools to close early, and no such case has come before him. <br /><br />“The last working day has to be like any other working day. However, some principals do organise a Bal Sabha in the second half of the last working day. During the session, extracurricular activities like painting, drawing and music are conducted for the students,” said Yadav.<br /></p>
