Falling student count in govt schools worries House

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27

Legislators across party lines today expressed concern over declining numbers and deteriorating academic standards in government schools across the state on account of the increasing preference being given to private schools.

The issue was raised by Col Inder Singh (retd) in the Assembly today. He pointed out that the government needed to ponder seriously and take concrete steps to stop this reverse trend where despite spending so much on government schools and providing free books and uniform, parents were sending their children to private schools.

Interestingly, a majority of the legislators, who participated in the debate, stressed on the need to introduce English from class one in government schools. “It must be made mandatory for children of judges, officers, politicians and government school teachers to send their kids to government schools, only then the situation can improve,” said Inder Singh.

Inder Singh said the government needed to make some drastic changes while formulating the new education policy. “My humble request is that keep politics out of schools and impose a complete ban on mid-session transfers,” he urged.

He said there were 943 schools with single teacher and the percentage of children studying in government schools had come down to 58 per cent from 90 per cent. He added despite better salaries and better qualified teachers, preference was growing for private schools.

Replying to the debate, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who holds the portfolio of education, said the government would shortly fill 1,239 posts of teacher so that the vacancies can be filed up. “We have already sent a proposal to the State Public Service and Subordinates Services Commison for filing the posts at the earliest,” he stated.

Virbhadra said five schools will be developed and granted the status as smart schools. “At present, there are 9.59 students in government schools out of which 4.78 are girls,” he said. He added that till now 13,568 posts of teachers had been filed through new appointments as well as promotion. He said the education policy of 1992 and 1986 had been implemented in the state and the Right to Education had been implemented in 2009. “All schools are preparing a calendar of events” and thrust is being laid on extra-curricular activities besides academics.

Asha Kumari (Congress) suggested that the government should set up cluster and model schools with day as well as residential facility.