Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar today said that he was surprised to discover that many teachers have been posted in four non-existing schools in Jammu city.
While replying to a question of PDP Member Firdous Ahmed Tak in the Upper House today, Mr Akhtar said that worst is the condition in the Education Department and he intends to improve the system. If he could not do it, he would consider himself as failure.
Replying to the volley of questions of the Members, the minister admitted that the condition in his department was not bad but worst. He said, “ you may not believe but it is fact that there are four schools in Jammu which are non-existent and many teachers are placed against them and they are drawing salaries. This disease has moved to such an alarming position that major surgery is needed for the treatment.”
New transfer policy is being framed and overhauling would start soon. Contractor system in SSA would be abolished and Mid-Day meals scheme would be refined. Many teachers have turned contactors and raised building. Such system would not be allowed to go on.
Mr Akhtar further said that 3550 posts of teachers have been filled by the Service Selection Board during the year 2014-15. He said that in order to improve the quality of education various steps are being taken including filling up of vacant posts of lecturers/teachers and institutions heads are being filled on priority.
The minister said that rationalization of teaching staff is going on with reference to enrolment of students while as new construction, additional accommodation and renovation of existing buildings are being taken up to ensure proper infrastructural facilities to the schools. Teaching/ learning material, wherever required is being provided to all schools regularly and inspections of schools is being conducted to ensure the presence of teaching staff in the schools, the Minister said.
Mr Akhtar said that teachers are being entrusted with the responsibility for increasing the enrolment of students in the schools. He said Mid-day meal is being provided to the students for increasing the enrolment and retention. Free textbooks are being provided to the students and teacher education/training are conducted to increase the quality of education, while as School Management Committee and Development Committee have been constituted for surveillance of schools under RMSA and SSA schemes, the minister said.
He said that the school-less habitations are being covered so that access could be given to the children while as a new transfer policy is being drafted and charter of duties for all levels is being prepared.
The minister said that 820 Government Education Schools are functional in 7 Education zones of Kishtwar district. He said that 2540 teachers are available while as 315 posts are vacant in various educational institutions in district Kishtwar. He said that 19 schools have been upgraded during last 5 years under RMSA while as 159 schools were upgraded under SSA in the district.
The minister said that the transfer policy is being drafted, schools rationalization of the staff has already been started and vacancies in the far off areas shall be filled up suitably.
Ghulam Nabi Monga and Vibod Gupta raised supplementaries to the main question.
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