Embarrassing moments for Education Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 3. The Minister for School Education, Mr. Kadiam Srihari, faced embarrassing moments in the Assembly when Mr.N. Raghuveera Reddy (Congress) produced a question paper issued by a Zilla Parishad high school in East Godavari district with the symbol of cycle ( TDP's election symbol) inscribed on it.

Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said the question papers were issued to students of a school in Narsipudi village. It amounted to inducting party politics in school affairs thereby vitiating the academic atmosphere. It was a serious lapse on the part of the school management, he alleged.

With the backing of other members, he insisted on an enquiry into the episode. The Minister assured the agitated members that an inquiry would be ordered and he would report to the House about the fate of the probe on March 12.

Earlier facing supplementaries to a question relating to education code in schools, the Minister made it clear that there was no proposal to introduce detention system in high schools. But the Government was evolving a scheme by eliciting the views of experts, under which the progress of students and the performance of teachers could be assessed.

The Minister informed Mr. Appala Suryanarayana (TDP), who wanted the detention system introduced, that the experts were against detention as it would be lead to further dropouts.

Responding to the points raised by the members, he said it had been decided not to involve the students anymore in the Janmabhoomi programme. The members drew the attention of the House to the hardships faced by students during the Janmabhoomi programme.

The discussion centred on standard and quality of education in Government-run schools and the need to inculcate moral values. Mr. Srihari said the Government proposed to send a delegation of teachers to Mount Abu for a training on moral education. An agreement was entered into with the Brahmakumari mission.

Lack of adequate number of teachers, basic facilities like toils and furniture, grants-in-aid to upgraded middle schools, vocational courses at the school level were the other issues raised by the members.

The Minister said toilets would be provided in all girls schools within three months. Over a lakh of teaching posts were filled besides appointing 50,000 Vidya volunteers. Yet there was shortage of teachers, he admitted.

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Section  : Southern States
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