Elementary Education

Sir,

The Constitutional directive under Article 45 for providing Universal Education upto the age of 14 by 1960 has not been fulfilled inspite of tremendous expansion. As a result a new programme under the caption "SARVASIKSHA- ABHIYAN" has been launched by Ministry of Human Resources & Development. SSA is a programme with a clear time frame for Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE). SSA is to provide useful and relevant elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group by 2010. There is another goal to bridge social and gender gaps with the active participation of the community in the management of schools.

Article 45 of our Constitution also envisages providing of free & compulsory education to all children upto age of 14. SSA aims at brining community at the grass root level for bringing about quality and quantitative improvement in elementary education. But to achieve the above targets envisaged in SSA, a rigorous amount of dedication and devotion is required on the part of elementary teachers in the field. A teacher at Primary stage under Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) has to impart teaching only for 180 working days out of 365 days in a year. Besides in-service trainings and Extension Services viz educational seminars, quiz contests, debates, exhibitions etc a teacher has to perform a number of other duties which include:-

a) Conduct of elections;

b) Conduct of Census;

c) Conduct of all types of surveys:

- Population survey,

- Educational survey,

- Household survey etc.

All these assignment are performed by the teachers during working days at the cost of students. A Govt. teacher hardly gets sufficient time for delivering his goods to the students which is his main concern. To bring 100 per cent literacy, under these circumstances shall always remain a dream for all of us. The people at the helm of affairs should realize their role so that teachers should get rid of all these extra duties and devote themselves for the real work for which they have been engaged or appointed. Continuous absence from their duties by the teachers from their classes is a matter of serious concern. Even for in-service trainings and extension services, it is suggested that teachers may be deputed during vacation only and not on working days. Teachers should not be made scape-goats to perform those duties for which they are not meant for.

Yours etc...
J.S. Awal
Poonch

Correction

Sir,

This refers to the article 'Tips for Income Tax planning through Savings (Sunday Magazine of Daily Excelsior on 19.2.2003) in which "interest at the rate of 6 percent compounded half yearly" should be read as Interest at the rate of 9 percent compounded half yearly. Moreover the last para should be read: "Life Insurance Policy should not be discontinued before expiry of 2 years.

Yours etc...
Upender Bhat
N. Delhi