Is this Akhilesh's first class education? Pictures show UP pupils forced to clean school floors before class

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav might boast of a world-class education system after distributing laptops in the state, but the reality is very different. On May 20, schoolchildren were found doing menial jobs in government schools in Gangerua, Pahasu and Thujapur villages, in the Bulandshahr district.

This is not just the story of one school. This system is prevalent in most of the government schools across the state. Students of primary and higher secondary schools are made to clean the school premises before attending their daily classes.

"Sir, class me jaane se pehle jhadoo lagana padta hai (sir, we have to clean the premises before attending the classes)," said Ankit (name changed), a student of Class IV. The children are even engaged in pulling the cart carrying the mid-day meal.

Children carry their mid-day meal to school in Bulandshahr before attending classes

A boy is forced to clean school floors by hand

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has previously claimed that his state has a world class education system

"Bhaiyya roz hum trolly me khana le ke aate hain sabke liye (bhaiyya, I drive this food trolly to the school every day)," said 11-year-old Ankit.

"A plumber was hired to do some repair work in the school and I was ordered to help him," said Ankit.



When asked about the matter, Poonam Singh, a teacher in the Thujapur Secondary School, said: "I will not comment on this."

Meanwhile, the Basik Siksha Adikari Pradeep Kumar said, "We will take action after the schools are open in July."

SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary promised "strict action".



Congress spokesperson A P Singh said: "This is a heinous crime and I recommend s trict action against the authorities who are responsible for running the schools."

Akhilesh sees red over blue

By Piyush Srivastava

Akhilesh Yadav has a new problem. He wants the primary school students uniform - blue half pants/skirts and sky colour shirts - changed because it is the colour of the flag of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party.



The Basic Education Department has sent a proposal to basic education minister Ram Govind Chaudhary to change the colour of uniforms of the students of primary schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The government provides the uniforms free of cost.





