SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Feb 16: Jharkhand Minister of School Education and Literacy Jagarnath Mahto on Wednesday told the senior education officials that it was not because of their work that students have started coming to schools, but the meals and closure of several private schools that increased the numbers of students attending government-run schools.
He was presiding over a meeting of DEOs, DSEs and RDDs of all districts from around the State on Wednesday.
Mahto said this when upon being asked about any successful steps taken by officials to increase the number of students in state schools, officials claimed mid-day meal and several other steps had helped. Further expressing his disappointment over the inactivity of the district officials, Mahto noted that asking private schools to manage the 42000 state schools would be more beneficial.
Mahto along with Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma attended a review meeting with officials of all districts from around the state where he questioned the work done by the officials in the financial year 2021-22. He further asked them to explain the reason why each district had surrendered such large amounts instead of using the money for betterment of the education system in the state. Notably, more than Rs 450 cr has been surrendered by the officials of the education department as the financial year ends.
Mahto seemed in disbelief when none of the officials could explain why the amount was surrendered. The officials further stayed mum when asked of the overall expenses during the financial year 2021-22. He pointed out that the research grants provided to the officials were also surrendered. District officials from Lohardaga and Bokaro explained that the funds were from last year along with interest, increasing the overall amount that was returned. Over this, Mahto questioned officials as to why none of the officials had asked for guidance from the department a few months back regarding proper usage of these funds.
The minister then said that around Rs 20000 to Rs 22000 is spent per year on a child’s education in the state including all planned and non planned expenses, still, parents prefer private schools over government schools. Questioning the officials, the education minister asked them to ponder over the question of preference of private schools.
Further instructions were given to officials for several incidents including an incident where students when asked who the President was had answered ‘Pranab Mukherjee’ and when asked about the PM the answer was ‘Raghubar Das’. Angered over this, Mahto gave a piece of mind to the Bokaro officials questioning the level of education and awareness in the state. Further other incidents including Chaibasa’s G+2 schools and Palamu where a visor of a new building had fallen over injuring a child.
Mahto then said, several reports have claimed that teachers in several districts have a comically low attendance, wherein some visit schools thrice every year for Independence Day, Republic Day and Saraswati Puja. Officials claimed that teachers and principals have claimed biometric machines not working or living in other towns and having to travel far for schools. Over this, Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma said that the rule states that all government officials should reside within an eight kilometer radius around their place of work. Sharma further instructed officials to check which teachers are not following the rule and to keep a close eye on the attendance of teachers.
Officials were further instructed to regularly visit schools and inspect the management of schools along with the notebooks of students to check if they are being taught properly. Sharma instructed officials to order BOs and CRPs to regularly check the level of education being provided at schools through interactions with students. He added that officials need to be proactive instead of reactive in the state.
Giving one month to officials to become proactive and to properly prepare answers to all of the minister’s questions about the sorry condition of the education system in the state. He further warned the officials that if officials are unable to answer in the next meeting strict action will be taken against them.
