Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 10: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today said in order to provide free education to all children in the State a proposal for an ordinance would be put before the Cabinet very soon. He said detailed discussions have been done since the draft was put in public domain and the Education Department has taken suggestions from all quarters to frame the ordinance.
He directed the Secretary, School Education Department to finalize the ordinance, so that the matter is taken up in the next cabinet for final approval and early issuance of the ordinance.
“The state law has gone beyond the central provisions and Right to Education would be available to every child in the state between age of four to fourteen years for free and compulsory education till completion of elementary education with special provisions for children from weaker sections of the society,” he added.
Tara Chand chaired a high level review meeting of the Education Department and took a detailed review of the pace and progress of SSA and RMSA projects in the state.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, School Education Hirdesh Kumar, Directors of RMSA, SSA, School Education, Jammu, Additional Secretary and other senior officers of the department.
Taking strong note of the SSA fund embezzlement in the Baramulla district, the Deputy Chief Minister directed suspension of those involved.
The officers who were put under suspension include, former ZEOs Dangerpora, Asifa Ara and Mohammad Shafi Wani, former Principal HSS Dangerpora Bashir Ahmad Mir, Jr. Assistant Rifat Rashid, Zahoor Ahmad Shah, former I/C Headmaster MS Yamberzalwari and Maqsood Ahmad of MS Yamberzalwari. In preliminary inquiry misappropriations to the tune of over rupees seventy lacs have been established.
A fresh enquiry has been ordered to be conducted by senior officers for taking further action on the matter. Inquiries were also initiated for misappropriation of SSA funds in Zone Marwah, Assar and KGBV Boniyar, Baramulla.
Underscoring the need of training in the department, Tara Chand said experts should be called from outside state and master trainers should be trained at national level training centers. Training for teachers both at the time of recruitment as well as during various stages of service is very important so arrangement need to be made for imparting latest training, he added.
The meeting took a detailed review of civil works undertaken in different schools all across the state under SSA and RMSA.
The Deputy Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction on the pace and progress of the PWD works and directed the Secretary, Education to take up the matter with concerned for ensuring speeding up of the undertaken works. He said infrastructure for different schools is being created and no delay in this regard would be tolerated.
He directed the CEOs and ZEOs to keep three days earmarked for field visits so as to firsthand ascertain progress of works, immediate requirements and conduct academic inspections.
Follow our WhatsApp channel