Chandigarh, September 4
The number of illiterates in Punjab, the number two state as far as the per capita income is concerned, is on the increase. And the government admits it. This is the situation when the entire country is trying its best to be in the hightech education mode.
The number of illiterates in 1991 was 62.39 lakh who now add up to 63.80 lakh. There are about 3 lakh non-schoolgoing children between the 6-14 age group in the state where almost every village has a government primary school.
The picture of school education is also very dismal. First take the vacant posts of teacher in schools. In Government primary schools, 5000 posts of teacher are vacant and about 3500 posts in the master cadre are unmanned. Likewise, at the secondary level, 1548 posts of Lecturer are vacant, besides 733 posts of classical and vernacular teacher.
The scenario is worst as far as the posting of school heads is concerned. As many as 983 senior secondary schools about 70 per cent of the total number, are without regular Principals. As many as 552 posts of Headmaster are vacant out of the total strength of 1742. About 1100 primary schools are without proper buildings. One can imagine the fate of school education in the state from the above scenario. A large number of posts at the directorate level are also vacant. It is the rural schools which are in the worst shape. Posts in almost all urban government schools, where a lot of private public schools are available, are occupied. Some of these government schools are even overstaffed.
With such a situation at the school level, the Education Department has framed a new education policy. The intention is to restructure the entire education system at the school level. Punjab Education Minister, Khushal Behal says that he would effect major changes within one and a half months.
As per new policy, primary schools will be merged into middle schools. The secondary education school system will have high and senior secondary schools the earlier four-tier system— primary, middle, high and secondary schools — will now become two tier.
The government has already introduced a cluster system to monitor the functioning of schools. Under this system, all primary and middle schools falling within a 5-km zone of a particular area have been put under the administrative control of the Headmaster or Principal of the high or secondary school situated in that area, with the powers to check attendance of
students, teachers and also quality of education imparted. This is being done to improve the quality of education at the school level, says the minister.The number of inspections of schools by District Education Officers have been fixed. Committees have been formed in each village for the development of schools. A state-level committee under the minister will also make surprise inspections of schools.
The government, which will be provided Rs 1,100 crore under the Sarav Shikhsa Abhiyan in the next 10 years, will focus on eliminating illiteracy. The provision for mid-day meals has been made in certain schools and the scheme will be extended to the entire state soon. English will now be introduced from the third standard instead of the first. From class VI science subjects will also be taught in English medium and computer education will be introduced at this level.
