Move to make PTAs working reality

MUMBAI, Nov 3: Complaints about the absence of Parent-Teacher Associations PTAs in several primary and secondary schools in the state have...

MUMBAI, Nov 3: Complaints about the absence of Parent-Teacher Associations PTAs in several primary and secondary schools in the state have prompted the state education department to launch a campaign to ensure that all schools constitute PTAs.

Many educational institutions have failed to ensure the proper working of PTAs in schools despite a government resolution GR issued to all schools in the state in 1996 asking them to set up PTAs. Several schools have ignored this directive, said State Secretary of School Education, Rameshchandra Kanade.

8220;Though it is mandatory for every school have a PTA of its own from this academic year, we have received several complaints about the lack of implementation. Hence, we have decided to launch an intensive drive for the implementation of PTA in every school in Maharashtra,8221; he told Express Newsline. The government plans to act on complaints about non-functioning PTAs by sending inspectors and issuing show-cause notices to errant schools.

In 1996, the stategovernment, in an attempt to enhance parent-teacher interaction and improve the quality of education, had taken a policy decision to ensure PTAs in every school. According to the Minister of State for Education, Anil Deshmukh, the need for PTAs was being increasingly voiced because many parents and students had started directly complaining to the education department on minor issues that could have easily been resolved by a PTA. As per the GR, the parent of every student will be a PTA member.

While the headmaster is to act as the body8217;s chairperson, a parent from each division per grade is to be nominated by PTA members, along with one teacher from every class. The PTA8217;s duties include ensuring that the syllabus is completed on time, resolving academic problems faced by students as well as teachers and keeping a close tab on the tuition fee and term fee structures in non-grant schools.

Kanade, however, added that after the GR was fanned out, many secondary and primary schools have formed their PTAs. 8220;Ihave told the Deputy Director of Education to immediately act on complaints in this regard and take action against the erring schools,8221; added the education secretary.

However, the President of the Guardians8217; Association, Borivli, Pradeep Sanghvi, alleged that the PTA circular8217;s guidelines were only distributed among school principals, most of whom allegedly never acted upon the GR.

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8220;A large number of schools in Borivli and Kandivli, for instance, have not yet formed PTAs even though we have officially complained to the education department. The government should ensure that implementation does not stay on paper,8221; he stated.

The President of Forum For Fairness In Education, Bhagvanji Raiyani, claimed that over 80 per cent of the 1,350 secondary schools in Mumbai do not have proper PTAs. 8220;Even in the primary section, the situation is no better. The managements are neglecting the state directive as they do not want parents to question them on issues such as arbitrary hikes in school fees,8221; he alleged.And although some schools have formed PTAs out of the fear of being derecognised, the PTAs in such schools are merely on paper, and parents and teachers rarely meet, he added.

Father Herman Castelino, principal of St Xavier8217;s High School near Metro Cinema, agreed. 8220;Some Catholic school principals fear that the parents may start dictating terms to the management, but such a fear is not justified,8221; he said.