Right to Education Act will be implemented in Orissa from 1st April,2010

Indian Express,BBSR:

The Right to Education Act will be implemented in Orissa from 1st April,2010.

This was decided at a high level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Wednesday. As per the provisions of the Act, all children up to 14 years of age will have compulsory education. The State will require Rs 16,000 crore during the next five years for the implementation of the provisions of the legislation.

The student-teacher ratio will be 30:1 while there will be a minimum of two teachers per school. The appointment of new teachers, the need for separate lavatories for boys and girls in schools, construction of kitchens and boundary walls were discussed.

It was decided that the process for filling up vacancies in the posts of teachers in schools will be started within the next few days. It has been found that while some of the education districts have shortage of teachers, others have more than the required numbers.

A committee will be set up under the chairmanship of the district collectors to assess whether there is surplus or shortage of teachers in their districts.

The surplus teachers will be redeployed in districts, which has shortage.

The restriction on transfer of primary school teachers to other districts will be withdrawn. Earlier, only 10 per cent of the total primary school teachers in a district were transferred to other district. More para-teachers will be appointed to fill up the shortage. As the legislation has emphasised on appointment of trained teachers, training facilities for teachers will be created.

The training will be given through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Distance Education Programme of other universities. Inspection of schools by the higher authorities will become strict and regular.

Besides, steps will be taken for improving school infrastructure. Priority will be given to repair school buildings and hostels which are more than 50 years old.

It was decided that the textbook printing press in the State will be modernised and 50 lakh textbooks will be printed.

Books will also be published in Braille.

Increase of scholarship of primary, upper primary and secondary school students was discussed. Minister of State for School and Mass Education Pratap Jena, Development Commissioner S P Nanda, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Bijay Patnaik and senior officials were present.