The Government’s decision on operating around 2,000 Government schools with fewer students in Public Private Partnership mode might be withdrawn, some education officers said on Monday.

According to them, private enterprises might be interested in operating such schools located in plains, but not in the mountainous parts where chance of making a profit is minimal.

According to a department officer, it has been observed that Government school teachers don’t reach their assigned schools, located in mountainous parts if they are deployed there, even through they are being paid handsomely.

He further said that teachers working in public schools are paid less than Government teachers. One cannot expect teachers earning lesser salary from private company to work in the schools of mountainous parts. Apart from this, why will the business enterprise invest in schools with lesser students.

Moreover, the Government Primary School Teachers Union had recently protested against state government’s decision on operating government schools on PPP mode and demanded that the decision be withdrawn.

The union president PS Gusain said that in place of improving infrastructure in the Government schools and deploying teachers there, the Government has decided to hand over these schools to the private organisations.

He alleged that teachers are deployed on different duties like election, census and pulse polio immunisation programme.

Apart from this, they are assigned additional responsibilities like preparing food under mid day meal scheme, completing construction works and other tasks. Due to this, education in the government schools is adversely affected.

Gusain further said that students in Government schools are decreasing due to implementation of Right to Education Act in the state. Under this Act, 25 per cent of total students in a public school are enrolled from among the weaker section of society.

Critics say that education officers lay emphasis on enrolling 25 per cent students in public schools rather than focusing on providing quality education in the Government schools. Most of the government teachers are more qualified than those teaching in pubic schools.