Six yrs on,primary schools to be back in edu dept fold

The decision is expected to be made official at the next state cabinet meeting,most likely in August.

“ The teachers in these schools have been demanding the transfer of these schools to the education department for the past five years. They have no promotion avenues and also get their salaries late. So the government had promised them that it would act. Apart from this,centrally sponsored schemes like the Sarav Sikhia Abhiyan (SSA) and the mid-day meal schemes in these schools are not up to the mark due to lack of coordination between the two departments,” said an official seeking anonymity.

Sources said that about an year and a half ago,the government had mooted a proposal to transfer these schools from the panchayats department but the then rural development minister Bharampura did not agree and hence the proposal was shelved.

The schools,along with hospitals,were placed under the rural development department in 2006 as the government attempted to give the panchayats more power. Around 13,000 ETT teachers have been hired to run these schools. As per a few officials,however, the experiment has failed.

Sources also said that around 109 primary schools with the rural development department have been locked for two years due to a lack of teachers. Most of these schools fall in the border districts and kandi (semi-mountainous zones) areas.

Talking with The Indian Express,Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra,said: “ There is a proposal to transfer these government primary schools to education department as half of them are with our department and half with education department. So we want one department controlling these schools,as we want to upgrade the education system in the state. Otherwise there is no problem. I have spoken to the education minister in this regard. Let us see what works out”.