In J-K, 80 percent govt-run schools lack medical facilities 

© Bhat Burhan for The Kashmir Walla

At least 18,431 government-run schools are lacking medical facilities in Jammu Kashmir, putting a question mark on the claims about the development of educational institutes and the healthcare of students.

The official figures reveal that among the total of 23,173 government run schools in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 18,431 schools that amount to nearly 80 percent of the institutes are without medical facilities.

A local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), has learnt that only 4742 government schools were having medical facilities.

The government guidelines require schools to provide free and compulsory education to students in public schools, some government schools charge a fee in the name of Red Cross fund that is meant for their first aid treatment of the students, which is one of the components of annual admission fee paid by the students.

Similarly, at least 70 percent of functional private schools in Jammu and Kashmir san the medical facilities for its students and staff.

The official figures reveal that of the total 3868 private schools of Jammu and Kashmir, only 1658 educational institutes were having the medical facilities.

Likewise, 50 percent of the aided schools functioning here were also lacking the medical facilities. “Aided 4370 schools don’t have the medical facilities and only 4371 such schools had the medical facilities.”

It also stated that in the overall situation of all schools of Jammu and Kashmir, 60 percent of the schools were lacking medical facilities for the student and staff that includes all the government, private, aided and other schools. (KNO)