Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 23: Admitting that there has been no specific education policy in the State, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand who holds the portfolio of School Education, today said that a Committee comprising of prominent educationists representing all the three regions of the State will be soon constituted to give its recommendations for formation a suitable education policy in the State.
Replying to the debate on the annual grants of his Ministry in State Assembly here today, Tara Chand said that land mark initiatives were taken in the department soon after he took over the charge.
He said the team will have an in depth study of various leading States on the basis of which it will make recommendations for formulation of the education policy for the State.
Maintaining that there is no check on fee structure of private schools, the Deputy Chief Minister said to put rational fee structure in private education institutions in place the matter has been taken up with Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to constitute a Committee headed by a retired High Court Judge in pursuance of the Supreme Court ruling.
He said instructions have been given to concerned Deputy Commissioners to verify reports that some school buildings are existing on papers only and they were not constructed on ground. He assured the House that action will be taken against the guilty officials and officers responsible for the same.
Besides the department has ordered probe into fake appointments in Education Department and those involved for the same will be taken to task, he added.
He said in the district level review meetings it has come into his notice that some school buildings exist on papers only and have not been constructed on ground.
He also announced a probe through Divisional Commissioner Jammu in the ETT issue and urged the J&K Board of School Education to re-examine the case of ETT.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the issue has surfaced since 2011 and the ETT have made admissions to 14,000 students without following the codal formalities.
He announced opening of 24 model schools on the pattern of private schools 12 each in Kashmir Division and Jammu Division and also announced formation of two directorates each in Kashmir Division and Jammu region for elementary and secondary education to lessen the work load on one Director in each region.
He also warned punitive action against the teachers responsible for poor results.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the 250 promotions made by Education Department have not been cancelled however there transfer orders have been cancelled.
He said a criteria has been famed by his Ministry that the teachers serving in far flung areas for over two years will be transferred to their districts and the newly promoted teachers except those suffering from life consuming diseases will be posted in their place for a period of two years.
Besides the teacher who has attained the age of 55 years will only posed in far flung area on his promotion for one academic year he added.
Deputy Chief Minister said during the decade 2001-2011, literacy rate increased from 55.50% to 68.74% in the State adding that gap between the rural and urban literacy rate has also reduced considerably. The female literacy has also gone up from 43.0% in 2001 to 58.01% in 2011, which is an increase of 15 % and is above national average, he said.
He said in order to cover schooling facility gaps in un-served habitations the job of school mapping has been entrusted to Remote Sensing Technology Department and to give impetus to vocational education a pilot project in 50 Higher Secondary Schools in 1st Phase would be launched.
Mr. Tara Chand said approx 20, 000 vacancies have been identified and instructions been issued for filling up of vacancies on fast track basis. Consequent upon to which 4451 posts of teachers, 581 posts of lecturers have been referred to Service Selection Board and Public Service Commission, he maintained.
He said 309 Primary Schools are proposed to be opened and 138 Primary Schools proposed to be up-graded to the level of Middle Schools in 2013-14.
He said the number of private schools has increased considerably over the years and the Government is keen to see that these institutions contribute significantly towards social and educational development of the State. The SRO-123 of 2010 dealing among other things with the private schools is being reviewed together with the relevant provisions of J&K School Education Act 2002, he added.
He said the District Development Commissioners (DDCs) have been asked to monitor the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and constitute two Mobile Committees in the district for taking attendance, enrollment and implementation of flagship programmes, besides taking action against the erring officials. The Additional District Development Commissioners have been activated to monitor the implementation of flagship programs on monthly basis, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister said for special enrollment drive and bringing out of school children back to school, the ZEOs have been asked to conduct tour programmes in a week for motivating the parents to enroll their wards.
While highlighting the achievements of the Department, he stated that 39564 Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) have been appointed under SSA, 6919 ReT have been appointed as 3rd teacher, 7695 Rehbar-e-Taleem have been appointed under State Scheme, 6651 teachers have been promoted as Masters under SSA, 2529 headmasters have been regularized and 2041 Lecturers have been regularized.
He said 27 Principals & equivalent have been promoted as I/C CEOs, 82 Headmasters & equivalent have been promoted as I/C ZEOs, 406 teachers/Masters promoted as I/C Lecturers, 69 Lecturers have been appointed/selected by PSC, 06 I/C CEOs & equivalent promoted as Joint Directors and 4710 posts of various categories have been created for newly 526 upgraded Schools.
The Deputy Chief Minister said 581 posts of Lecturers have been referred to PSC, 4451 posts of teachers have been referred to SSB and the honorarium of ReTs has been enhanced from Rs 1500/- and Rs 2000/- to single tier of Rs 3000/- per month and the number of out-of-school children has reduced to Rs 0.60 lakh (from 3.76 lakhs in 2001), he added.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister moved that a sum of Rs. 3238.66 crore be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014.
Mr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Mr. Harshdev Singh, Mr. Ashok Kumar, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia, Mr. Bharat Bushan, Mrs. Bimla Luthra, Mrs. Indu Pawar, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Mr. M. Y. Tarigami, Mr. Ajaz Ahmed Jan, Mr. Javid Ahmed Dar, Master Lal Chand, Mr. G. M. Saroori, Er. Abdul Rashid, Mr. Charanjeet Singh, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Mr. Durga Dass, Mr. Krishen Chander Bhagat, Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, Prof Gharu Ram, Mr. Abdul Gani Malik participated in the discussion and gave their valuable suggestions.
Later, the members withdrew the cut motions they had moved after the satisfactory reply by theDeputy Chief Minister.
The House, later, passed the grants by a voice vote.
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