Congress members staged a walkout in Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday over rationalisation of Government schools and outsourcing of teachers in the State while being dissatisfied with the reply of School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap over the issues.
The question over rationalisation of schools was raised by BJP member Rajmahant Sanvalaram Dahre during the question hour.
In a reply to Rajmahant’s query, the Education Minister Kedar Kashyap informed that those schools with a strength of less than 10 students enrolled are being closed. As per the law, in rural areas Primary School is set up at every 1 km, Middle School at 5 kms and High/Higher secondary schools at a distance of 5-7 kms. While in urban areas it is 0.5 km, 1 km and 2 km respectively.
BJP member Shivratan Sharma then questioned about the set up meant to be followed after rationalisation of the schools as the number of students also would go up after the merger of schools.
The Minister informed that for every 50 students two teachers will be appointed and one teacher if the number of students goes above 50.
The School Education Minister replied that in case if two schools exist in a distance less than the prescribed limit, then it would be regarded as one school instead of two.
Questioning about the basis for rationalisation of girls schools, leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo asked what would be done if both girls and boys schools exist in a distance less than 1 km.
Congress member Amit Jogi quoted a report from the Central Government and said that the teacher-student ratio in Chhattisgarh is high. In urban areas, teacher’s concentration is much needed; however, in rural areas the situation is vice-versa.
He said that if the rationalisation is implemented, 3000 schools would be closed; out of which, 80 percent is in tribal pockets.
Jogi further asked about the procedure to shut down the schools and claimed that at a couple of places, no demands or objections were called before the process and informed that due to this reason, the school in Thathapur of Kabirdham district where CM Raman Singh studied has also been closed. Congress members then staged a walk out from the House.
later, protesting against the State Government’s decision to outsource teachers in various schools across the State, the Congress members staged another walkout.
leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo raised the issue during the question hour and asked about the number of Primary, Middle, High and Higher Secondary schools in the State along with sanctioned posts of teachers in these schools.
School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap replied that a total number of 51,172 schools, including 33,126 primary schools, 13,864 middle schools, 1893 high schools and 2289 higher secondary schools, are functioning in the State.
In these schools, as many as 21,9933 posts of teachers were sanctioned of which 17,4701 are filled while 45,232 are vacant, Kashyap said.
However, Singhdeo citing the information provided by the State government said that the Government has decided to outsource 45,246 teacher posts in schools. The scarcity of doctors could be quickly understood but such is not the case of the lack of teachers, he said.
The Education Minister said that the new initiative is meant to provide better opportunity to every single student especially those who hail from rural areas. Owing to non- availability of the staff to teach subjects like English, Mathematics, Physics, etc. the State Government has decided to go with the idea of outsourcing.
Singhdeo further mentioned that outsourcing of school teachers will have adverse consequences on the job opportunity of local youths as large number of aspirants from outside will be able to apply for the posts.
He asked the Government to roll back its decision.
Dissatisfied with the Minister’s answer, Congress members kept shouting slogans and demanding to roll back the decision to outsource the teachers.