Govt moots Indian education services

Looking at better management of its schools and higher education institutions, the government on Monday mooted the starting of an Indian Education Services (IES) for education administrators.

Looking at better management of its schools and higher education institutions, the government on Monday mooted the starting of an Indian Education Services (IES) for education administrators.

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Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal has formed a committee headed by former education secretary Anil Bordia to study and suggest ways to start IES on the lines of other civil services like Indian Forest Service or Indian Revenue Service.

“The idea is to create a dedicated IES cadre. The officers will get trained on education affairs and become better administrators,” a ministry official said.

The idea to start IES dates back to the late 1980s’ when P. V. Narshima Rao was the Human Resource Development minister.
The group headed by Bordia will have a re-look at the recommendations of a study done during Rao’s time and give fresh suggestions.

“The consensus was that education administrators do not have in-depth insight into education. So they require training and knowledge on the subject,” the official said.

Teacher training for implementation of RTE: The ministry also set up various committees to look into the issue of teacher training. India requires 10 lakh teachers for implementing the Right to Education Act.

A committee comprising Bordia, Delhi University professor Anita Rampal, and NCERT director Krishna Kumar will look into how more universities can begin elementary teacher training courses.

The committee will also identify teachers with leadership skills in order to start a teacher-mentoring programme at the block and district levels across the country.

Another committee has been formed to look at private-public-partnership for starting teacher training institutes.