Uttarakhand Commission for Protection of Child Rights (UCPCR) chairperson Yogendra Khanduri has asked the State chief secretary to implement Right to Education (RTE) Act in letter and spirit. He said to enable the students of the State to take the competitive examinations, it is imperative to provide them with quality education right from the primary and upper primary level.
He expressed disappointment over the level of education being provided to the students in the schools. He mentioned the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT’s) 2017 survey report to buttress his point. He said as per the survey, less than 50 per cent of the students of Class VIII across all 13 districts of the State passed the test in Mathematics, adding things were really worrisome.
Notably, the survey revealed that in Uttarkashi district, 33 per cent students passed the same test while the figures were 49 per cent in Tehri, 40 per cent in Dehradun, 44 per cent in Haridwar and 37 per cent in Nainital districts.
The performance of the students was not up to the mark in science and social science subjects, he said, adding that in the languages, over 50 per cent students in each school the survey was done on got the pass marks. Pauri topped the list with 67 per cent in pass percentage of students in language subjects while Champawat was at the bottom with 51 per cent, he said.
The chairperson said authorities should focus on providing quality education to the students in the Government schools. “The problem of shortage of teachers dogging such schools should be solved. Two teachers should be deployed in the schools where 60 students are studying in Classes I-V. Three teachers should be appointed when the number of the students is from 61 to 90. Four teachers should be where the number varies from 91 to 120 while five teachers where the number varies from 121 to 200,” he said in the letter to the chief secretary. He stressed on professionally trained teachers being appointed.
He further urged the Chief Secretary to ensure that the capitation fee is scrapped strictly. “Besides, it must be ensured that the teachers are not allowed to do private tuition. Parents- teachers association (PTA) should be formed at each school and meeting should be conducted on regular basis. Vacant posts against sanctioned posts of teachers should not go beyond 10 per cent. This aside, adequate funds should be disbursed on school education,” Khanduri said.
While expressing concern over the students developing mental problems like depression, he said that their mental health must be ensured through the help of the counsellors. He invoked sections 31(1)(a) of Right to Education Act, UCPCR to stress that the state administration is bound to implement RTE Act strictly to ensure bright future of the children.