Noida School Audit: CJP alleges schools closed after inspection; administration denies claim

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on September 15 inspected a government primary school in Noida as part of its 'School Thik Karo' campaign and raised concerns over the upkeep of toilets and other facilities. The Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration, however, denied a claim made by the organisation that government schools in the district had been ordered to observe a holiday following the inspection.

Spokesperson Saurav Das led the team and said classes were underway and students were present when the team reached the school. He added that the teachers cooperated with inspection. CJP's Das said the team subsequently attempted to visit three other government schools but was denied access. At one of the schools in Noida, CJP claimed that garbage had accumulated outside the entrance.

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The CJP alleged that the Noida administration had contacted school staff and instructed them “five to six times” not to allow its representatives to inspect the premises.

Later, he posted on social media that all government schools in Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida and Greater Noida) had been directed to close immediately after CJP inspected one school in Noida. He questioned what the state government was allegedly trying to hide.

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The party also questioned the state government over what it described as restrictions on its school inspections. In another post on social media, CJP asked why government was allegedly 'in panic' over its inspections. The party said authorities should instead focus on improving government schools.

The district administration rejected the claim about the closure of schools. Gautam Buddh Nagar Basic Shiksha Adhikari Rahul Panwar said a message circulating on social media claimed that all government schools in the district had been directed to close immediately. Panwar termed the claim “completely false” and said no order or decision regarding the closure of any government school had been issued.

He said all schools in Gautam Buddh Nagar were operating according to the schedule prescribed by the administration and the concerned department. Das also questioned the alleged restrictions on access to government schools, particularly in view of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s earlier invitation to citizens to visit and inspect such institutions.

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CJP questions restrictions on access to government schools

At the school inspected by the CJP team, the organisation said it documented the condition of the toilets and raised concerns over their maintenance. Das also highlighted non-teaching responsibilities assigned to teachers, including Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral-roll work and Booth Level Officer (BLO) duties.

According to the CJP, villagers present at the school told its team that an unused room had previously functioned as a public library. The organisation raised questions about the use and maintenance of facilities intended for students and the wider community.

The CJP further questioned why government school infrastructure continued to deteriorate despite budgets being allocated for maintenance and repairs. It asked why sanctioned funds were not translating into functional facilities.

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Das said the condition of the school was significant because Noida is considered one of Uttar Pradesh’s more prosperous districts. He questioned what the condition of government schools might be in less affluent parts of the state.

One of the key demands of CJP is that teachers should be relieved of non-teaching duties such as SIR and BLO work. Another demand was to maintain and sanitise school toilets. The party would continue its school audits across Uttar Pradesh and urged citizens to inspect government schools in their localities and seek transparency and accountability from the authorities.

The “School Thik Karo” campaign encourages young people to inspect government schools and highlight the conditions in which students study.

(With PTI inputs)