‘Only 10 per cent schools now fulfil RTE provisions’
In a bid to meet various challenges in school education system in the State, the National RTE Forum in collaboration with its State wing and All Utkal Primary Teachers Federation organised a two-day workshop on ‘Collective role of teachers and school managing committee (SMC) in school development’ here from Tuesday.
Though the second-phase deadline of the Right to Education (RTE), 2009 is all set to end in March 2015, only 10 per cent schools are presently fulfilling the important provisions of the Act in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, forum Convener Ambarish Rai said that priorities in education have been restricted to higher education and IT only, whereas school education lies in complete neglect in the State. He highlighted various issues like lack of infrastructure, teachers’ vacancy, sanitation, water purification and other support services in several schools.
Attending the event as the chief guest, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said that teachers can act as catalysts in the direction of development of school education and proper implementation of the RTE Act-2009 in the State.
Elaborating various implementation hurdles, the Minister said that besides ensuring infrastructural development, support services and budgetary allocation, efforts should also be made to enhance standard of education in schools so that poor students can get best education at their affordable limits.
Mishra further said that a roadmap should be developed on a war footing in consultation with all stakeholders, including, SMCs, community, Government and NGOs to achieve the goals by proper implementation of all provisions of the RTE Act by 2022. He also called for the need to establish more teachers’ training institutions in the State.
Stressing on privatisation issues, Prof Anita Rampal from University of Delhi said that private schools are only enroling students on the basis of merit. She underlined the need for bringing a change in the perception of school authorities as well of the teachers to motivate all students, including average and lower average ones, towards achieving excellence in education.
Among others, forum State convener Anil Pradhan, Centre for Good Governance chairman Dr Aurobinda Behera and AUPTF secretary Kahnu Charan Mohanty spoke on various issues relating to problems of teacher’s training and community participation. Over 120 participants, including teachers and SMC members across the State participated.