Agra: Six months after the new session started, around 37% students of the basic education department are yet to receive shoes. So far, according to a rough estimate, 1.5 lakh out of 2.38 lakh students enrolled in the state’s government-run primary and junior high schools are attending classes in slippers. However, official records say that shoe distribution in schools has been completed.According to sources, a majority of the shoes that the department provided didn’t fit the students. As a result, students come to schools in slippers on cold mornings. Principals have written to the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) for replacements, but to no avail.Last month, assistant education director (basic) Avadh Kishor Singh conducted inspections in primary schools of the district and expressed discontent over students not being provided with shoes even after much delay. He asked the BSA, Anand Prakash, to take time-bound action in the matter and submit the report to him. The BSA in turn asked 15 block education officers to send details of the students who needed replacements, but only one of the officers has responded so far.District general secretary of the primary teachers’ association, Brajesh Dixit, said, “There are 2,086 primary schools and 872 junior high schools in the district. Nearly 50 percent students enrolled in these schools have no shoes. Due to mismanagement on part of officials, a majority of the shoes supplied to the school didn’t fit and were returned for replacement. But even after much delay, the process has not been completed. The matter has been raised with officials several times. Over 1.5 lakh students continue to come to schools without proper shoes.”BSA Anand Prakash said, “Shoes have been supplied in all the schools. Block education officers have been directed to sort out size-related issues in a time-bound manner. Soon, inspections will be made to check availability of proper school dresses and shoes with students”.

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