The Jharkhand Government has decided to withdraw the decisions of merger of schools with low enrolment ratio of students. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator from Dumri Jagarnath Mahto, who has been appointed as new Minister of School Education and Literacy department, has said that the Government will take back the previous government’s decision to merge schools. Mahto is yet to assume charge as Minister.
The Raghubar Das Government in 2018 had taken a decision to merge schools with low enrolment an exercise undertaken by Rajasthan and Jharkhand in the country with the support of the Union Government and NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog. In two phases the Jharkhand government merged 1200 and 4600 schools, but brakes were applied in third phase of merger of 6466 schools due to protest of opposition as well ruling parties.
The minister’s remark on withdrawing Raghubar Das government decision assumes importance as JMM has been strongly critical on merger of schools. The then Opposition parties comprising JMM and Congress had opposed the Raghubar Das Government’s decision terming the decision to destroy education in State. The JMM and Congress at that time had organized demonstration across the state. As general election was approaching the BJP MPs too were against Das decision, leading to all 12 members of Parliament belonging to the ruling BJP representing Jharkhand in the Lok Sabha opposed the Government’s merging primary and middle schools in the State. The MPs, in a combined letter in 2018 addressed to Chief Minister Raghubar Das, spelt out several reasons in the support of their demand.
The Jharkhand government has put the merger of proposed 6,466 middle schools (classes 6 to 8) on hold, till the impact assessment of the already merged 4,600 primary schools gets completed.
Meanwhile, School Education and Literacy department, Principal Secretary AK Singh said, “The Government can take back its decision taken by the earlier government if the Cabinet gives its consent to withdraw the decision.”
Moreover, Minister Mahto also announced to look into the matter of Para teachers which includes hike in their salaries and regularization of service. Chief Minister Raghubar Das in his entire tenure had to face stir of Para teachers. The Para teachers went on 63-day long strike from November ending on January 2, 2019 after Government promised to set up a committee to consider their demands.
The committee was set up and it also visited several states to study the para-teachers’ regularisation model, but the BJP Government failed to act on their demands. With JMM government taking shape in State the Para teachers is once again to intensify their demands.
However, Singh said that Government can take decision of Para teachers’ demand as per draft committee prepared by earlier government. Also as the matter is subjudice in Jharkhand High Court, Court’s views is also important in Para teachers demand.
