Teachers should understand the psychology of students weak in studies and then try to teach them, stated District Collector Bhim Singh during the review meeting for ensuring quality education in the Government schools held here on Friday. He directed the Block Education Officers (BEO) and Block Resource Coordinator (BRC) to ask teachers for participating in non-educational activities as well.

Stressing upon creating awareness towards shunning use of polythene bags and taking up total sanitation drive, the Collector asked teachers to keep a check over cleanliness in class, school compound, hygiene in kitchen of mid-day meal preparation and personal tidyness of students. The parents of children should be also be informed about positive effects of maintaining cleanliness, he said.

The Collector instructed District Education Officer (DEO) to keep dustbins and develop kitchen garden in every school. For disposing water from kitchen, soak pit should be also made in school, he added. The DEO during the meeting informed that in coming days, 15 minutes time will be reserved after lunch break for non-educational work. During this time, discussions will be held among students over pre-decided subjects, which will help them to groom their personality.

Quoting the report of 'Asar' released a few days back, the Collector was informed that basic amenities were more or less available in all schools. However, there was huge gap in teaching-learning. Teachers did not focus on weak students regardless of the fact that focus should be on such students. Requirement of developing a well furnished library in schools was also conveyed to the Collector.

For developing social participation, the Collector asked teachers to include parents with every activity of the school. He also asked to include retired teachers or other retired employees in the parents’ committee. The Collector also directed DEO to clear pending arrears and salaries of teachers.

Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government is constantly making efforts to improve the student-teacher ratio in Chhattisgarh besides enhancing the educational facilities in State, officials stated.

As a result of these efforts, student-teacher ratio in schools of Chhattisgarh has reached close to the national average of 25 students per teacher. This ratio in primary schools of the State is around 23 students per teacher and in middle schools it is 24 students per teacher. likewise, the State also has 83 per cent of the children enrolled in government schools.

School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap had stated that the current year has been observed as 'Education Quality Year' in State. Meanwhile, rationalisation scheme was implemented in the State to increase the number of teachers in schools.

He mentioned about the report of social service organisation 'Asar' while saying that State Government has been taking continuous measures to reduce the student-teacher ratio in the State so as to ensure sufficient number of teachers in schools as per the national average.

Effective steps have been taken to enhance infrastructure of schools. Kashyap said that in year 2010, only 79 per cent schools in the State had their own offices, store-rooms or office-cum-storerooms. In year 2014, this figure has improved to 82.3 per cent. likewise, in year 2010, only 45 per cent of the schools had the facility of playground. But by 2014, this figure has increased to 64.2 per cent.

He further stated that as per the survey, number of schools equipped with boundary walls has increased from 48.8 per cent to 60.8 per cent in last four years. In the same period of time, the State Government took up a special campaign of providing lavatory and safe drinking water facilities in schools. In this campaign, the

number of schools equipped with these facilities, which was 82 per cent earlier, has increased to nearly 90 per cent at present. Moreover, nearly 92 per cent schools have been equipped with the facility of lavatory in year 2014. Earlier, this figure was only 71 per cent. For mid-day meal scheme, schools are being provided with kitchen facility. In year 2010, only 86 per cent schools had kitchen shades. This has increased to around 93 per cent in year 2014.