The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced its intention to persist with the “School Theek Karo” (fix schools) campaign. This decision comes in response to recent guidelines issued by the Rajasthan government, which restrict the entry of “outsiders” into school premises and ban photography and videography without prior permission. The CJP aims to address concerns related to education in the state, despite these new regulations.
The guidelines were issued on Sunday after CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka joined students protesting the dilapidated condition and lack of drinking water facilities at a government school in Alwar’s Thanagaji as part of the campaign. In the guidelines issued on Sunday, secondary education director Lalit Kumar said that no outsider will be allowed to enter a government school without prior permission from the principal or head of the institution. Earlier reporting noted: Rajasthan govt restricts entry of outsiders, photography and interviews as CJP plans school visits The Rajasthan government on Sunday imposed restrictions on unauthorised entry of outsiders in the state-run schools.
Ranka sought a written assurance that the problems would be addressed. Ranka hit out at the government over the guidelines, accusing it of trying to stop public scrutiny. “Instead of fixing schools, the Rajasthan government has started shutting down school audit activities. Whatever the Rajasthan government does, we will get our schools fixed,” Ranka wrote on X. Dotasara called local communities, parents and public representatives stakeholders in the management and development of government schools. He added that any measure weakening public oversight would undermine transparency in the education system. It added that outsiders will not be permitted to enter classrooms, hostels, libraries, toilets or other areas students use unless an authorised school employee or teacher accompanies them. Photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and live streaming on school premises will require prior written permission from the principal. The circular laid down strict guidelines on entry of strangers, photography and live streaming of school premises or collection of personal information of students or teachers. The schools in these cities were allegedly in dilapidated conditions and demands for repair were being ignored by the administration.
He said education minister Madan Dilawar could lodge a case or even arrest them, but they would continue inspecting schools until their condition improves. Opposition Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasara said that the restrictions aimed at concealing shortcomings in the government school system rather than addressing them. “Instead of improving the condition of government schools, the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] government has found a way to cover up its failures and conceal the poor state of the education system,” Dotasara wrote on X. He said that if conditions in government schools were satisfactory, the government should have no reason to fear photographs or videos showing school buildings, classrooms, teacher shortages or problems faced by students. The government invoked the principle of “in loco parentis”, or acting in the place of a parent. It said the state has a special responsibility to protect the safety, dignity, privacy and well-being of children studying in government educational institutions. “Instead of improving the condition of government schools, the BJP government has found a way to cover up its failure and hide the poor condition of the education system,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: CJP co-convener Ranka said he had received requests to inspect schools in Jaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Barmer, and Hanumangarh.
Earlier reporting noted: The government directive drew criticism from the Opposition as Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dostara hit out at the BJP government for trying to cover up its alleged failure.
