Haryana govt schools to restrict unauthorised visits; Minister cites safety
Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda has announced that unauthorised entry into government schools in the state will no longer be permitted. The decision comes amid a series of school inspections by activists of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who have been documenting alleged deficiencies in infrastructure, cleanliness, teacher availability, and midday meal quality as part of their ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign.
Addressing reporters in Hansi on Monday, Mr. Dhanda described government schools as a “national heritage” and stressed that the “safety of students cannot be compromised for political publicity.” He said that anyone wishing to visit a government school must do so in coordination with members of the panchayat and the School Management Committee (SMC). “The sarpanch is there, elected representatives of the panchayat are there. There is an SMC in all schools. Anyone visiting must take along SMC and panchayat members,” he said. He further added that responsibility would be fixed if any disturbance occurs on school premises during such visits.
The Minister advised people with genuine grievances to first approach the sarpanch or other responsible authorities. His remarks come after CJP activists visited 16 to 17 government schools across Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, and Fatehabad districts over the past fortnight.
Responding to the Minister’s statement, CJP national core committee member Sudhir Sangwan said that activists had entered schools only after being invited by villagers who wanted improvements. He questioned the effectiveness of SMCs, noting that while they were set up as watchdogs, their members often remained inactive or lacked the capacity to monitor schools effectively.
Mr. Sangwan also referenced a teacher who was suspended in Bhiwani after a CJP activist raised concerns about the quality of foodgrains supplied for the midday meal. The group has announced plans to visit 100 more schools over the next two weeks to highlight deficiencies and demand greater accountability.
On social media, Mr. Sangwan shared an order issued by the Hansi district administration restricting unauthorised entry into schools, criticising the move as an attempt to prevent people from documenting the condition of government schools. The Minister, however, maintained that proper channels exist for raising concerns and that safety and discipline within school premises must be upheld.
The development highlights the ongoing tension between civil society activism and government oversight in the education sector. While the government emphasises procedural coordination and student safety, activists argue that unannounced visits are essential to expose ground realities and hold authorities accountable.
