In order to provide quality education at secondary level, several programmes have been operational under central and State Government sponsored schemes in the schools, said additional secretary and school education director general PS Jangpangi.
Instructions have been issued to the district and block education officers to conduct surprise inspections in schools and initiate departmental against principals who fail to execute central sponsored schemes in their schools, he added.
Jangpangi said that academics, training and innovations wing of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), is engaged in the enhancement of quality and incorporating innovations in the secondary education.
“In order to develop interest in the field of science and scientific vision and thinking among the students, schools conduct monthly science competitions. Events like science dramas, seminars, exhibitions and quizzes are organised as prescribed by National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The students selected at school level competition participate at the block level and those selected at the block level participate at the district level. RMSA State project joint director in-charge Mahavir Singh Bisht said that each year, schools are given Rs50, 000 under RMSA which includes Rs25,000 for science consumables,
Rs10, 000 for library and Rs15, 000 for water tax, electricity bill and other expenditure.
He said that guidance and counseling programmes have been started for raising awareness on selection of vocation and different challenges faced in adolescence.
Guidance and counseling corner have been established at each school and the principal and one teacher of each school have been trained.
Every Government school of the state has already constituted school management and development committee in which 20 members are nominated. The execution and procurement for all activities under RMSA has been done by SDMC.
Bisht said that special classes on mathematics, English and science subjects for around 3000 students in minority dominated districts of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar have been conducted in Government schools.
Students who score less than 40 per cent marks in Class IX examination are directed to attend such classes which are conducted one hour before or after school time by the school teacher.
“For promotion of art and craft, students of 227 selected schools are trained in wood carving, making wax candles, paintings, folk dances, folk music, local musical instruments and indigenous knowledge of herbal medicines. Such activities are organised by SMDC under which training was imparted for upto 45 days by local experts and artisans, he added.