“We do not want to
destroy diversity
(among school
boards). We do not
want a uniform
board. But we want
excellent
quality,” Sibal
said addressing a
conference of
secretaries of
school education
and literacy here.
Urging the states
to put an end to
their “laid-back”
approach to
education, the
minister said the
Centre wants all
state boards to
achieve uniform
level of
excellence.
The Minister said
the government is
set to
“rationalise” the
Mid-Day Meal
scheme by adopting
a mechanism to
link cooking cost
to the price index
of items and
ensuring that the
amount spent per
meal is
automatically
enhanced in tune
with the
price-rise of
commodities.
The Ministry had
earlier set up a
committee to
suggest modalities
for raising the
amount per child
under the mid-day
meal programme.
The move was
initiated after
complaints by
states that the
existing limit was
too meagre to
sustain the
programme.
Currently, the
government spends
Rs 2.08 for cooked
food per child at
the primary level
and Rs 2.60 at
upper primary
level.
The minister also
said there is up
to 50 percent
shortage of
teachers in
schools in various
states. Both
vacancy and
quality of
teachers are
concern areas, he
said. The Right to
Education bill has
underlined that
teachers have to
receive a certain
degree of
excellence in five
years.
The bill, which is
already passed by
the Rajya Sabha,
will make
education
compulsory for
students of the
age group of six
to 14 once it
becomes a law. It
has various
provisions to
boost elementary
education too.
But the “states
should not take
five years for
this. Chalta hai
(laid-back)
attitude should
go. You must
target to do it in
one or two years,”
he said addressing
a meeting of
elementary
education
secretaries from
the various
states.
“We need an
element of
uniformity of
excellence and
quality in school
education system,”
he said.
He exhorted the
officials to bring
a parity in
excellence among
all education
boards. This will
enable student
from across the
country to
“compete with rest
of the world”.
The minister once
again clarified
that he has not
advocated to bring
all school boards
under one
umbrella. He
called for a
uniformity of
excellence rather
than uniformity of
education.
Diversity can be
embraced while
maintaining
quality, Sibal
said while
underlining that
the central
government is
extending a hand
of friendship to
the states as this
is a matter which
is to do with
children.
“And together we
must set out
towards ensuring
that our children
march ahead of
us.” The minister
said that state
governments must
prepare plans on
how to monitor
neighbourhood
schools and
teachers
attendance.
Currently teachers
absenteeism is an
alarming 19
percent.
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