Activists in India launch public audits of state schools — DW
The Indian student movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has launched a campaign of public audits of state schools. Activists, parents and students are expected to inspect the condition of toilets, access to drinking water and electricity, classroom furniture and school buildings. The movement plans to use the collected data to demand that authorities address the problems.
The campaign was launched on August 15, India’s Independence Day. CJP’s first goal is to inspect 100 rural state schools over two months. The movement also proposes recognizing village heads who improve conditions in local schools, Deutsche Welle English reports.
Disputes over access to schools
CJP previously gained nationwide prominence through weeks-long protests over a scandal involving competitive entrance examinations. According to DW, that campaign increased political pressure on the government and ended with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July.
The new initiative has drawn differing reactions in the states. Authorities in Maharashtra and Rajasthan objected to visits to schools without permission. In one case, a complaint by a school administration led to police action against CJP members after they entered the institution’s premises for an audit. Rajasthan restricted outsiders’ access to state schools, as well as filming, interviews and other methods of documentation. CJP volunteers also said they were attacked while inspecting one of the schools.
Movement spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said that activists are not afraid and are seeking government accountability. At the same time, officials emphasize that schools are not open spaces for unauthorized inspections, especially when children are present.
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Issues of procedure and privacy
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to conduct on-site inspections of school infrastructure and ordered police to register cases over videos about schools and colleges that he called misleading.
Vinita Gursahani Singh of the We, The People campaign noted that the Right to Information Act allows citizens to inspect schools, but an application must be submitted to do so. In her view, public oversight is legitimate, but it must take place according to procedure and with consideration for the educational process and student safety.
Education reform advocate Mohandas Pai supported young people’s interest in the problems of state schools but criticized large groups of activists entering institutions and questioning principals and children. He proposed that CJP send small groups with permission, collect data systematically and publish regular reports. The movement responds that traditional channels have not produced substantial changes.
According to India’s Ministry of Education, the country has more than one million state schools. They make up nearly 70% of all schools, but educate fewer than half of the country’s 247 million schoolchildren.
