CJP inspects Noida govt school, flags poor facilities; admin rejects closure claim

NOIDA: The Cockroach Janta Party on Tuesday inspected a government primary school in Noida under its "School Thik Karo" campaign and flagged poor upkeep of toilets and other issues, while the district administration denied claims that schools were closed following the inspection.

CJP co-convenor and spokesperson Saurav Das led the team during the inspection and said classes were underway and children were present when they reached the school. He said the teachers were cooperative during the inspection.

He said the team later attempted to visit three other government schools, but was denied access. At one of the schools, the CJP claimed, garbage was piled up outside the entrance.

The youth-led social activist outfit alleged that the Noida administration had contacted the school staff and instructed them "five to six times" not to allow CJP representatives to inspect the premises.

However, Gautam Buddh Nagar Basic Shiksha Adhikari Rahul Panwar rejected the claim that schools were closed following the inspection.

In a statement, Panwar said, "A message circulated today on various social media platforms by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) spokesperson, claiming that 'All government schools in Gautam Budhh Nagar District in Uttar Pradesh have been directed to be closed immediately'."

"The statement currently being circulated on social media, attributed to the party spokesperson, is completely false; therefore, it is categorically denied," he said.

He further said, "All schools in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district are operating in accordance with the schedule prescribed by the administration and the department concerned; no order or decision regarding the closure of any school has been issued."

Das 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.

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

In a statement, the CJP said villagers present at the site told its team that an unused room had earlier functioned as a public library, raising questions over the use and maintenance of facilities intended for students and the wider community.

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

CJP said the condition of the school was significant as Noida is considered one of the more prosperous districts of Uttar Pradesh, and questioned what the situation might be in less affluent parts of the state.

It demanded that non-teaching duties such as SIR and BLO work be removed from teachers, and that school toilets be properly sanitised and maintained.

CJP said it 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.