Cold Classrooms, Broken Promises: AAP Flags Alarming State of Haryana’s Government Schools

Punjab: As winter tightens its grip across Haryana, concerns are growing over the condition of government schools. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday accused the BJP-led state government of ignoring the basic needs of schoolchildren, saying thousands of young students are being forced to sit on mats or bare floors in near-freezing temperatures.

AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda said temperatures in many parts of the state have dropped to 5-8 degrees Celsius, yet classrooms remain ill-equipped to protect children from the cold. “This is not just poor management. It is a direct injustice to children’s health and future,” he said.

Why are young children still sitting on cold floors?

Dhanda pointed out that the education department had earlier conducted a verification exercise to assess the need for dual desks in government schools. Demand reports were submitted by March 5, 2025, and the government had claimed that no child would be made to sit on the floor. “December is almost over, but nothing has changed on the ground. Where did that entire plan go?” he asked.

What is the reality inside government school buildings?

According to Dhanda, ground reports paint a grim picture. Many schools do not have enough classrooms. Several buildings have broken doors and windows, while others lack basic infrastructure altogether. In many places, children are being taught in corridors or in rooms without proper ventilation, exposed to cold winds. Facilities like heaters or even simple arrangements to protect students from winter are missing.

How severe is the shortage of space?

Dhanda said the situation is alarming in several districts. In some schools, just three or four rooms are being used to accommodate nearly 600 students. Elsewhere, over 300 children are attending prayers and classes in open areas. Some primary schools do not even have their own buildings and are operating from shared or temporary premises. “This reflects the real condition of Haryana’s education system,” he said.

Is there enough teaching staff in schools?

AAP also flagged a major shortage of teachers. Dhanda claimed that more than 30,000 teaching posts are lying vacant across the state. In many areas, a single teacher is responsible for 400 to 500 students. Nearly 90 percent of government schools do not have a headmaster, affecting both academic guidance and daily administration. He alleged that instead of regular recruitment, the government is relying on temporary arrangements through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, which is hurting the quality of education.

What does the government say to concerned parents?

Questioning Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s silence, Dhanda asked what the government is doing while small children shiver in classrooms. “Is this the so-called ‘Haryana Model’ and ‘world-class education’ that the BJP talks about from public platforms?” he said.

What is AAP demanding now?

The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded immediate steps to provide dual desks in all government schools, fill vacant teacher and headmaster posts, repair school buildings, and ensure proper winter protection for students. Dhanda said the party would continue to raise this issue across the state.

“Children’s futures are not built on files and announcements,” he said. “They are shaped in safe, dignified classrooms. The government must stop playing with the lives of young children and act without delay.”