Parliament Question: Dilapidated Condition in Government Schools in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3893 ANSWERED ON - 16/03/2026 Dilapidated Condition in Government Schools in Maharashtra 3893. Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that numerous Government school buildings in Maharashtra, such as the 79-year-old ZP High School at Sakoli in Bhandara are in dangerously dilapidated condition, risking students’ lives and if so, the details of measures taken by the Government in this regard; (b) whether it is a fact that the slabs and parts of structures have recently collapsed at Government ZP School in Shingadgaon, Solapur, although fortunately no major injury occurred, raising serious safety concerns, if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government in this regard; (c) the number of unsafe schools identified in Maharashtra, funds sanctioned for their repair and the time-bound plan for safety audits and urgent reconstruction; (d) the details of special scheme or dedicated assistance has been provided by Union Government to State for immediate repair and safety audits; and (e) the time by which all unsafe Government school buildings in Maharashtra are likely to be made structurally sound to ensure student safety? A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a): State of Maharashtra has informed that In ZP High School Sakoli in Bhandara district 16 classrooms are available out of which 2 classrooms are in dilapidated condition. In year 2025–26, District Annual Scheme (Jilha Warshik Yojana) has approved amount of Rs. 25.00 lakh for special repair works of ZP high school at Sakoli in Bhandara. Also, 2 classrooms are approved with financial allocation of Rs.24.00 lakhs from Special Fund. (b): State of Maharashtra has informed that Zilla Parishad Primary Marathi School, Shingadgaon, Taluka South Solapur is a Primary (Class 1 to 5) school. The enrolment of this school is 148 and 4 teachers are working. 7 Classrooms are available in this school, out of which 5 classrooms are available in good condition. Structural Audit of these classrooms has been conducted, and 2 classrooms were found dilapidated and these classrooms are nolonger used. State has intimated that a part of front verandh slab has collapsed after the school hours; no harm occurred due to this. Permission has been granted vide letter dated 29/07/2025 from the office of Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad Solapur for demolishing the dilapidated classrooms. (c) to (e): The state has informed that as per UDISE (Plus) data 2025-26, a total of 22691 classrooms are found dilapidated in 10568 schools. Guidelines have been issued by the State vide letter dated 29/10/2024 and multiple reminders to the concerned local authorities about school safety and no use of dilapidated school building. Constructions of classrooms and repairs are carried out under Samagra Shiksha and other State Government’s Schemes. The Ministry of Education has issued a latest directive on 26th July 2025 to all States and Union Territories to take urgent steps to ensure the student safety and well-being. It refers to the "Guidelines on School Safety and Security" (2021) and the National Disaster Management Guidelines on School Safety (NDMA, 2016) issued on 27.02.2017. The directives are available on the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss2607.pdf Further, the Ministry of Education on 7th August 2025, has directed all States/UTs to ensure the structural safety of school buildings and urgent identification of unsafe and dilapidated school buildings through safety audits, followed by demolition, if required or repair of structurally unsafe structures, and prohibition of use, unless certified as safe. The directives may be accessed at https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss07008.pdf Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. Guidelines issued from time to time by Ministry of Education and States/UTs are expected to implement them, they may incorporate additions or modify them, according to their specific requirements. Samagra Shiksha Scheme supports creation of infrastructure and basic facilities for students in Government Schools. The requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State/Union Territory including rural areas depending on their need and priority and reflected in their Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These plans are then appraised and approved/estimated by Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and Union Territories as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme, physical and financial progress of works sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources. *****