Paradip: A video showing students cleaning the toilet of their school, ShreeMaa Nodal Vidyapitha, went viral on social media.
According to reports, the teachers have allegedly used the students to clean the toilet ahead of the visit from education department officials Monday.
When contacted, headmaster Duryadhan Sethy said he was unaware of the incident.
Admitting that it was unfair to engage students in toilet cleaning work, he said he could respond only after talking to the teachers about the incident.
Even some teachers on the condition of anonymity admitted that 17 schools in Paradip municipality area has been forcing students to clean toilets regularly.
Instead of discouraging such practices, they have made out a case for engaging students.
“Many schools don’t have sweepers or peons. So who will do the cleaning job?” they asked.
When contacted, Jagatsinghpur district education officer Prativa Manjari Das said under no circumstances students should be engaged in such activities.
Action will be taken against those who have been involved in the incident after a probe, she said.
When asked about the lack of sweepers and peons in some schools, she said that there is a government fund for every school.
It is the duty of the headmasters to use the school fund to hire sweepers. She said for this purpose, no particular official order is required.
Under Swachh Bharat Mission, it is compulsory for schools to have toilets. An amount is also earmarked for this purpose under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Yojana.
But there is no specific provision for the maintenance, including cleaning, of school toilets.
One of the reasons for the dwindling number of students in government schools is the adoption of unhealthy practices.
For example, 12 primary schools in this town had 4600 students in 2009/10. However, this number dipped to an abysmal 1040 in the current year.
On the other hand, the number of teachers has increased from 30 to 63.