Director general school education (DGSE) Kahan Singh Pannu has warned of strict action against managements of government-aided schools, who were charging fees from students of elementary classes.
The Right to Education (RTE) Act provides for free education for students up to upper primary classes in all government and aided schools. Interacting with media persons on Saturday after conducting surprise checking in government schools, he said if the schools were getting grant from the government, they were supposed to abide by its instructions.
Pannu added that 12 teams from the department inspected 117 schools in the district and found 30 teachers to be absent from duty. As many as 60 teachers turned up late, most of whom cited inclement weather as the reason for delay, he added. He said dismissal proceedings would be started against six absentee teachers and added that 450 such teachers had been discharged from service. He added that by April, the remaining 750 defaulters would also be expelled.
The DGSE said that government schools could not compete with private schools as far as the infrastructure was concerned but in many respects they were faring better.
"As students in government schools receive education in their mother tongue, they are less inhibited and get better chance to hone their creative skills as compared to convent schools where the children are not allowed to speak in their mother tongue," he said.
He added that annual prize distribution functions would be held in all schools on February 20. Due to the efforts put in by the government, the dropout rate in government schools had declined of late, he claimed. He said that in another few months, all education offices would be provided modern infrastructure.
{{/usCountry}}He added that annual prize distribution functions would be held in all schools on February 20. Due to the efforts put in by the government, the dropout rate in government schools had declined of late, he claimed. He said that in another few months, all education offices would be provided modern infrastructure.
{{/usCountry}}Later, the DGSE held a meeting with district education officers, block officers and heads of high and senior secondary schools. He was accompanied by assistant state project director (inspection) Satpal Singh.