Two govt schools get swimming pools
Government schools are changing. Buildings are getting better, swimming pools are being built, more facilities are there, and the biggest benefit has been... that govt school students are more visibly confident now ARVIND KEJRIWAL, CM
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government on Saturday inaugurated two swimming pools in two of its schools in east Delhi .
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated a pool each in Annie Besant Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Mayur Vihar and Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal/kanya Vidyalaya in West Vinod Nagar.
The two schools cater to girls in the morning shift and to boys in the evening shift.
“Government schools are changing. Buildings are getting better, swimming pools are being built, more facilities are there, and the biggest benefit has been...that government school students are more visibly confident now,” said Kejriwal.
According to the government, the six-lane pools cost Rs 2.28 crore each, and are 25 metres long and 12.5 metres wide, with a depth of 1.05 metres at the shallow and 1.8 metres at the deep ends. The pools will be supervised by a qualified coach and lifeguards, and will function from April to mid-november every year.
“These pools will cater to the needs of the 5,000 students of both the schools. Apart from the students of these schools, students of other nearby government schools and private schools can avail of the swimming facility at these pools without any charge,” reads a statement released by the government.
The Comptroller Auditor General (CAG)’S latest report had pointed out that sports was a “low priority” for the directorate of education (DOE).
The report said the DOE maintains 15 swimming pools in the city. Manish Sisodia, the education minister of Delhi, spoke to the teachers and heads of the schools, and asked them to encourage students to take up swimming.