The Organisation of Parent Associations’ Forum (OPAF) on Monday sent a list of suggestions to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) for framing of a National Education Policy (NEP) that would maintain conducive atmosphere in the educational institutions and overall development of education sector in the country.
The suggestions were made by educationists, lawyers, social workers, teachers, students etc at a seminar organised by the OPAF here recently.
The suggestions include provision of a strict monitoring mechanism for nutrition, health, playing equipment and hygienic area for physical and mental development of children of 0-3 year age group, teacher and student ratio at 1:15 in tribal areas, various facilities, including hostel, for children belonging to economically background children and strict implementation of Child Labour laws to check dropouts, making mandatory of refreshable and orientation course for teacher in every two years’ gap, equal works for equal works and regularisation of all contractual, part-time, Block Grant, temporary and ad hoc teachers.
Provisions of development of Standalone Education institutions into multidisciplinary schools, a clear definition for selection of members to District Education Council (DEC) and Zilla Siksha Parishad (ZSP) for making the process transport and fair, IT-based grievance redressal for parents, empowerment of RSA or DSE to take necessary action on any violation of regulation/policy/provision/operation of education system and provision for SSRA to make robust and easily accessible public grievance and redressal mechanism were also suggested.
As regards to private schools, the OPAF also suggested that the term ‘private philanthropic’ must be clearly defined and schools must be refrained from expensive advertisements and unnecessary things like attractive decoration on exterior designs on school building, gates to bring down the un-equality psychology of children. Private schools should be refrained from using the word “Public” in their name and verification of books of their accounts should be made by the Government. Mandatory disclosure of books of accounts and necessary documents for years together on their school websites and accounts must be maintained for transparency and fixation of optional fee for extra facilities.
Besides, the parents’ body also suggested that the expenses for children admitted under the RTE head in a school must not be burden to other parents at any cost for which there should be a crystal clear guideline/policy.