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TFP Bureau, Raipur, July 2, 2024: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Education Department, emphasizing the importance of quality education and the need for disciplined, well-functioning schools. Highlighting education as key to progress, he directed officials to ensure high standards in teaching and learning across the state.
Chief Minister Sai instructed district collectors to inspect two to three schools each month to monitor their operations, while Block Education Officers were tasked with conducting regular field visits to evaluate teaching quality. He also called for the preparation of a proposal for the rationalization of teachers and schools to address teacher shortages, to be presented at the next cabinet meeting.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the slow pace of school renovations, Chief Minister Sai underscored the urgency of improving school infrastructure. He mandated that officials oversee the progress of renovations under the School Jatan Yojana and ensure proper use of allocated funds.
Tree-Planting Campaign and Teacher Training Initiative
Chief Minister Sai encouraged students to participate in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree-planting campaign, launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He urged schools with boundary walls to plant and care for trees such as Neem, Gulmohar, and Karanj during the rainy season. Additionally, he directed officials to formulate a ‘Training Policy’ for rotational training of teachers, ensuring consistent professional development.
The Chief Minister announced a state-wide Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) to be held on August 6th, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in education.
Initiatives to Prevent Dropouts and Enhance Vocational Education
To combat dropout rates, especially among students admitted under the Right to Education Act (RTE), the Education Department will appoint district-wise officers as mentors. These mentors will assist students with admissions and address any issues they face, working closely with parents, school management, and the administration.
Chief Minister Sai also directed officials to introduce vocational courses in schools, aligning them with industry needs to enhance employment opportunities for students post-graduation. These courses will include field training, and under the National Education Policy 2020, vocational courses will begin from class 6.
Educational Infrastructure and Future Plans
Officials reported that Chhattisgarh boasts a student-teacher ratio of 21.84, better than the national average of 26. The state has 9,438 Balwadis for children aged 5 to 6, with plans to open 1,132 more this year. Under the PM Shri Yojana, 211 schools are being developed as model schools, with proposals to extend the scheme to 198 more schools.
The Education Department has also established the Vidya Samiksha Kendra to oversee various programs, including online attendance, student evaluations, mid-day meal schemes, and teacher promotions. An MoU with IIT Bhilai has been signed to develop data analysis software.
Attendees of the meeting included Chief Minister’s Secretary Shri Rahul Bhagat, Dr. Basavaraju S., School Education Secretary Shri Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi, Managing Director of Samagra Shiksha Shri Sanjeev Jha, Director of Public Instructions Smt Divya Umesh Mishra, Director of SCERT Shri Rajendra Katara, and Director of the Textbook Corporation Shri Kuldeep Sharma.
