Elections and Government Schools

I happened to read a couple of articles on dailies on the plight of government schools post-election in India. It is a well-known fact that government schools are the first in line to be assigned as polling booths throughout the county followed by aided, private schools and higher education institutions. Government servants from across departments take part in this mega event, predominantly school teachers.

 

In other words, government schools and teachers are the major players in every election. But the saddest part is that their schools are left in an undesired manner after elections. Without a choice, polling officials end up using every wall of the school to stick election essentials which could not be easily removed later. Government schools struggle really hard to get their walls painted, floors renovated, blackboards refurbished, so on and so forth. Many schools run from pillar to post to get these things done by the government, some succeed in bringing in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and philanthropists and few schools restore themselves with the help of their own teachers. These hardships are not respected, to say the least, by the election process that take these schools for granted. Every time after an election, the look of the school changes for bad. So far, the Election Commission has not taken this into consideration and allocated funds to rectify this state of affairs.

But as we technologically grow in every election and spend in millions to run this show, it is time for the Election Commission to share a little with government schools, at the least, to undo this disorder. Even otherwise government schools do not have a say in being assigned as polling booths. Yet, this tiny concern would lift the spirit of our schools and teachers to happily lend their space to election and not dissuade the philanthropists to continue their support.

It goes without saying that the election officials do have to treat their temporary space during elections with utmost care and concern. Most importantly not to complain about basic facilities such as fans and toilets as our children live with it every other day!! 💫