Class VIII in primary section: Association drafts proposal

GSSMA president Ambu Patel said: “In the entire process,it is the administration of the school which will be affected in a big way. We are not against the move to transfer Class VIII to the primary section,but a sudden shift will bring down the quality of education. We have suggested that the secondary schools which already have Class VIII,should continue doing so,as the SSA funds can be given to these schools.”

Patel added: “This way the state government can save in the construction of new infrastructure.” The association has,however,accepted the inclusion of Class VIII in the primary schools in areas and villages with no provision for higher education.

The association has also questioned the exclusion of Article 35 of the Secondary Education Act in the Legislative Assembly,which will hinder the recruitment of teachers in the newly added schools. “We want the state government to work out on an alternative in the selection committee,” said Shakti Patel,president of the Bharuch district School Management Association and a member of GSSMA.

The association has asked for the provision of more Class III and IV workers to manage the paper work.

“In a resolution taken in 2009,the number of peons and clerks were downsized regardless of the number of students in the school. We suggest that more workers are sanctioned for the additional classes,” said Patel.

The suggestions will be submitted to the Department of Education next week. “We have called in for suggestions from everyone. The shift of Class VIII to primary will be settled in the next three months,” said Hasmukh Adhia,Principal Secretary,Department of Education.