A comprehensive social audit of schools operating under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Chamba district has uncovered major deficiencies in infrastructure, student safety, basic amenities and educational quality, raising concerns about the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
The findings were presented at a public hearing held in Chamba on Thursday, attended by over 600 stakeholders, including parents, teachers, School Management Committee (SMC) members, elected representatives and Education Department officials.
The audit was conducted by a team from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) led by Dr Randhir Ranta. A total of 342 schools —about 20 per cent of the district’s 1,636 schools — were surveyed, including institutions in the remote tribal areas of Bharmour. The remaining schools will be covered in subsequent phases.
Presenting the report, Dr Ranta said the audit had exposed serious gaps in the education system. “The district’s school education system falls short of the standards guaranteed under the Right to Education Act,” he said.
According to the report, nearly one-third of the surveyed schools lack adequate classroom space and sufficient rooms for teaching and non-teaching staff. Around 50 per cent were found to have inadequate furniture, forcing many students to study without proper seating arrangements.
Student safety emerged as a major concern, with more than half the schools lacking boundary walls or fencing. The audit also revealed that nearly 85 per cent of schools are not connected by motorable roads, making access difficult, particularly for children with disabilities.
Basic amenities remain inadequate in several institutions. At least 16 per cent of schools do not have separate toilets for girls, while 17 per cent lack drinking water facilities. Three per cent of the surveyed schools do not have kitchens for the mid-day meal programme.
The audit highlighted serious shortcomings in menstrual hygiene management, noting that over 90 per cent of schools do not provide sanitary pads to adolescent girls. None of the surveyed schools had professional counselling services, while facilities for children with special needs were found to be grossly inadequate.
Library infrastructure was also found wanting, with more than 80 per cent of schools failing to meet prescribed norms. The report further pointed to weak monitoring mechanisms, stating that field-level education officials were not conducting school visits as mandated.
Participants at the public hearing demanded immediate corrective measures, including improved infrastructure, better transport connectivity, stronger monitoring and greater accountability.
The audit report will be submitted to the Education Department for necessary action. Experts stressed that addressing these systemic deficiencies is crucial to ensuring equitable and quality education for every child in Chamba district.
