Edu depts lips sealed on glaring issues

You cannot get more thick-skinned than the state education department. Following a PIL, a division Bench of chief justices of Gujarat High Court KS Radhakrishnan and Akhil Kureshi had taken an assurance in 2006 from state deputy director of primary education that the latter would overlook appointment of trained teachers in all primary schools across state and that action would be taken against schools that do not employ qualified teachers. The department also promised action against district primary education officers who gave permissions to such dubious schools.

Till today, state education department has not fulfilled a single promise it made before the division Bench. In a reply to Vinod Pandya’s RTI of March this year, primary education department admitted that no action has been taken till date against erring private primary schools. The PIL filed by Jan Sangharsh Manch was a result of Pandya’s unearthing data in 2006 on number of unqualified teachers in private primary schools.

This only shows the commitment of education department towards primary education besides making out a case of contempt of court. HC had also asked education department to ensure that teachers are paid according to stipulated norms as mentioned in the Bombay Primary Education Rules, 1949. This too has not been fulfilled.

In fact, TOI is in possession of two Government Resolutions (GR) issued by director primary education RC Rawal in December 2006 which acknowledge that "Inspite of the attendance of representative of government, untrained teachers are selected." Rawal also said, "It is primary duty of government representative that recruitment procedure is followed as per provisions of schedule F of BPE Rules, 1949. Rawal in a letter to all primary education officers of state in January 2007 also admitted that," Inspite of BPE Rules, it has come to the notice of this office that private primary schools rules regarding qualified teachers, payment of salaries through bank are not followed. Apart from absence of sanitation facilities, rules for classrooms, playground are also not followed, which is a serious issue. The instruction given for a periodic educational inspection too has not been followed as well. Despite rules, additional divisions are sanctioned without prior inspection," Rawal reveals in his letter.

Source: TOI