Ludhiana school faces scrutiny over poor conditions, fund misuse

A government school in Ludhiana is facing serious issues following an inspection. The District Education Officer (DEO) Ravinder Kaur visited Government Primary School, Haibowal Kalan, on March 11. She found many problems including poor hygiene and mismanagement of funds. During the inspection, Kaur discovered that the school reported 1,794 students enrolled, but only 422 were actually attending. The head teacher claimed that the absences were due to a festive season, but Kaur did not accept this reason. She stressed that staff should ensure all students attend school. Further concerns arose about the school's filthy condition. Debris was scattered throughout the campus, and meals were prepared unhygienically. Classrooms were dirty, and some facilities like the RO water system were not working. The school also lacked fire extinguishers near the kitchen. Kaur also noted financial issues. A grant of ₹15.02 lakh for building two classrooms was not used, despite the school failing to return the funds. In response to these findings, Kaur issued a show-cause notice to the head teacher for clarification on student enrolment and financial management. Additionally, another head teacher, Harjit Singh, from Government Primary School, Haibowal Khurd, also received a notice for incorrectly reporting school conditions. Kaur stated that it is vital for school leaders to accurately report their conditions. The head teacher of Haibowal Kalan, Shivani Sood, has not responded to inquiries about the matter.