Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s rationalised , transparency, sensitivity and policy-based approach towards Primary Education in the State -Photo Credit-CG/PR
School and teacher rationalisation done in the state in accordance with the provisions of the National Education Policy and the Right to Education Act — Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur: The Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has said that to ensure quality and accessibility of education, the state government has completed the process of rationalisation with complete transparency, sensitivity and policy-based approach.
CM Sai clarified that in the process no post of teachers has been abolished, rather the education system has been strengthened and organised in accordance with the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 and National Education Policy-2020.
The situation in the state before rationalisation was extremely unbalanced. 211 schools with 0 registered number were operating in the state, in which some teachers were also posted.
Besides 453 primary, pre-secondary, high school and higher secondary schools were without teachers. Also, 5936 schools were having single teacher , which included schools of all levels. This situation was undoubtedly affecting the quality of education.
On the other hand, an inappropriate number of teachers was observed in some primary schools – more than 15 teachers were working in 8 primary schools, 10 to 14 teachers in 61, and 6 to 9 teachers in 749 primary schools.
The same imbalance was found at the pre-secondary level as well – 15 or more teachers were working in 9 schools, 10 to 14 in 90, and 6 to 9 teachers were found working in 1641 pre-secondary schools.
At many places in the state, primary, pre-secondary, high school and higher secondary schools were operating in the same campus under different administrative control, which was also creating complications in management.
Along with this, in rural areas, schools with less than 10 enrolments were operating parallel to other schools located at a distance of less than 01 km. This situation was even more dense in urban areas – schools with less than 30 enrolments were functioning at a distance of less than 500 meters. Rationalisation was necessary to eliminate this inequality and to implement the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and the Right to Education Act 2009 on the ground.
First phase – Adjustment of schools
In the first phase of this process, rationalisation-worthy schools were selected at the development block level on the basis of parameters and instructions set by the government, which were sent to the government after testing and recommendation by the district level committee. On this basis, a total of 10538 schools were rationalised, including 10372 schools operating in the same premises, 133 schools located at a distance of less than 01 km in rural areas, and 33 schools located at a distance of less than 500 meters in urban areas.
Second Phase – Rationalisation of Teachers
For rationalisation of teachers, identification and calculation of surplus teachers was done at primary, pre-secondary, high school and higher secondary level as per the procedure prescribed and as per the provisions of National Education Policy-2020 and Right to Education Act-2009.
These teachers were adjusted in teacher less, single teacher and subject wise requirement schools through counseling process.
As a result of the rationalisation process, as many as 15165 teachers and principals were adjusted, due to which 453 teacher less schools in the past have now become fully occupied with teachers . Out of 5936 single teacher schools, now only 1207 primary schools remain due to teacher unavailability.
Chief Minister Sai also clarified that no post has been abolished in this process, rather the number of teachers required for each school has been determined in proportion to the number recorded as per the Right to Education Act 2009.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that in future, if the number of students enrolled in any school increases, then arrangement of teachers will be made there as per the sanctioned posts, CM Added.
