Edu Dept hints at transfers, no grace marks

CHANDIGARH: Taking note of the poor pass percentage of government schools in the CBSE Class X exam result this year, UT Education Department has decided to take several curative steps, including transferring teachers posted at same place for a long time, not awarding grace marks in Class IX and forming a committee to keep a check on schools.

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 10

Taking note of the poor pass percentage of government schools in the CBSE Class X exam result this year, UT Education Department has decided to take several curative steps, including transferring teachers posted at same place for a long time, not awarding grace marks in Class IX and forming a committee to keep a check on schools. Only 48% of students passed in the Class X exams.

As per Education Secretary BL Sharma, in a week or two, teachers posted for 20-30 years at the same schools will be shifted in a transparent manner. It is also being planned that those teachers who have got good results would be shifted to schools where the results have been poor. Years of posting, subject and station seniority will be considered while transferring the teachers.

The department will also hold a meeting with teachers and principals of government schools who have given good results. Besides being honoured, their suggestions on improving overall results will also be taken.

“Besides, we have already ordered that no grace marks will be given to Class IX students as it enabled them to jump to Class X without merit, resulting which, they fail in Class X board examinations,” said Sharma.

Lashing out at protesting teachers on being issued show-cause notices or getting suspended, the Education Secretary said, “Some schools have seven to eight per cent pass percentage. This is unacceptable under any circumstances. They have best salaries and infrastructure compared to other cities. Still, they have time for agitation and sloganeering but not to teach.”

The department earlier suspended the principal of a Karsan School and issued show-cause notices to 20 other principals. Four headmasters were suspended for less than 20 per cent pass percentage, while 56 teachers were issued show-cause notices for less than 33 per cent pass percentage in their respective subjects. Three others were issued termination notice and one was suspended for less than 15 per cent pass percentage.