Govt to set up directorate of primary education

The minister informed that according to the latest national sample survey, the literacy rate in the state is 74 per cent, while the urban-rural division is 86 and 66 per cent respectively. He said the dropout rate in Standard II was nine per cent, 10 per cent in Std III, 19 in Std IV, 22 in Std V, 31 in Std VI, 35 in Std VII, 43 in Std VIII, 51 in Std IX and 60 per cent in Std X.

A decision on seeking a soft loan of approximately Rs 650 crore from the World Bank at an interest rate of half per cent for constructing 52,000 classrooms at the primary level would be taken in a week’s time, he said.

The motto of the education department is “literacy to computerisation and policy to internet,” he said. For this, concerned school teachers will get a month’s training in computers, because currently there are not enough computer literates to train students, the minister said.

The minister also said 20 new posts have been created for the four new districts of Washim, Nandurbar, Hingoli and Gondia. Each district will be provided with three deputy education officers and one account officer. Hingoli and Gondia will be provided two additional education officers for primary and secondary schools.

More said new schools in the state would not be given recognition if they fail to provide basic amenities like toilets to girl students. Most of the aided schools do not pay much attention to this issue. Only female teachers will replace those on maternity leave, he said.

The minister said chairpersons of the sugar factories will be requested to open schools for the children of their factory workers in the campus itself. Asked about the junior college teachers agitation, he said the government was yet to take a decision.

For the academic year 1999-2000, D.Ed admissions will be centralised. The practical marks of MCVC (Minimum Competency for Vocational Courses) will be henceforth written in the marksheet itself, rather than attested separately.

The education department has also urged all employees to donate a day’s salary to the Orissa cyclone relief fund, which would amount to Rs 12 crore. The children can also contribute their bit towards the cause, he added.