Delhi Education Minister inspects schools in Patparganj, orders probe into defunct swimming pool

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday conducted surprise checks at four government schools in the Patparganj Assembly constituency, revealing several infrastructure deficiencies, including dilapidated buildings, non-functional classrooms and lack of basic facilities such as drinking water, toilets and laboratories.

The visit was conducted in the presence of local MLA Ravindra Singh Negi, officials from the Education Department, Public Works Department (PWD) and other staff members. The schools inspected included Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya (SKV) in Mayur Vihar, Phase-2, Pocket B; SKV Mandawali 1 and 3; and Government Co-ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in West Vinod Nagar.

During the inspection, the minister expressed serious concern over the dangerous state of the infrastructure in many schools. He pointed out that in several cases, students were still attending classes in buildings that were constructed in the 1960s and had been declared unsafe ever since. “If one classroom is hazardous, how can the adjoining building be considered safe?” he asked. “Out of 20 government schools in Patparganj, many still don’t have concrete roofs or basic amenities.”

At Government Co-ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, West Vinod Nagar, Sood found the library poorly maintained, lacking furniture and rarely used by students. Two classrooms had been permanently shut due to risk of roof collapse, with broken doors and windows compounding the problem. He reprimanded the PWD Executive Engineer on-site and directed that repairs be completed by May 15, noting that the school had been requesting roof repairs for over 18 months.

The minister also found significant shortcomings in the geography lab, which was operating from a cramped room with outdated equipment. In multiple schools, missing taps and poor toilet conditions further highlighted the lack of hygiene and basic infrastructure.

During his visit to SKV Mandawali No 1, Sood was informed that the school building, constructed in 1960, faced serious seepage issues during the monsoon, with ceilings in bathrooms and classrooms collapsing. The school’s multipurpose hall, he was told, floods with three to four feet of water during rains, posing a risk of electrocution. He directed the Education Director and PWD engineers to submit a work plan for its repair within a week.

A major point of concern emerged at SKV Mandawali No 3, where a swimming pool built in 2023 at a cost of over Rs 2.5 crore was found to be non-functional. The pool area was overrun with moss and stagnant water, and the flooring beneath had swelled and cracked due to substandard construction. Sood ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the matter, calling the project a “failure of the previous government”, which had showcased the pool as a model initiative.

The minister also reviewed the mid-day meal served at SKV Mayur Vihar Phase 2, Pocket B, and found discrepancies in its quality. He instructed the principal to take immediate corrective steps. He also noted issues with staffing, including teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms, which he said directly affected the learning environment.

Sood said under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi Government was committed to bringing about comprehensive reforms in education. “We have increased the education budget by over 18 per cent to Rs 19,291 crore. The previous government created an illusion of an education revolution with selective renovations and misleading advertisements. But now the truth is coming out,” he said.

He concluded that restoring Delhi’s education system would be a time-consuming process, but necessary to ensure quality learning for every student in the capital.

Delhi