The State Government on Tuesday admitted that strict measures such as checking unfair means in examination, adopted by School Education and Literacy department has resulted in a decline in board examination results.
The matter came to fore after a query made by Lohardaga Congress MLA, Sukhdeo Bhagat, who during question hour said that number of successful candidates in matriculation has come down to 2.34 lakh in 2018 from 3.60 lakh in 2014.
Replying to the query made by Bhagat, Minister in-charge education department, Louis Marandi said, “The State Education department with an attempt to check use of unfair means in matriculation and intermediate examinations and to bring more transparency has introduced several measures such as installation of CCTV cameras at examination centres, frisking of students and other measures has resulted in decline in matriculation results. However, there is nothing related with decline in education standard or providing quality education.”
The in-charge minister made the reply, as education minister Neera Yadav was out of State Capital for some urgent work. Marandi, the MLA from Dumka said, “There are many instances witnessing ups and downs in matriculation results, but the government is committed to provide quality education to students both at matriculation and intermediate level.”
The Minister also stated that out of 4 lakh seats in intermediate and plus two schools, around 3 lakh students have taken admission at various intermediate and plus two schools. She said that the other reason behind poor results was there was severe shortage of teachers at government schools and the past government had paid little attention to address the issue.
The Minister said, “The government is concerned with teachers shortage at government schools and in this direction various teachers recruitment drive have been carried out.”
The issue of appointment of Para teachers was also raised at assembly. Raising the query at question hour, Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee pointed out that out that despite declaration of merit list around 700 Para teachers have not received the appointment letter as the government has to complete the counseling process of the selected candidates.
Even the High Court has made the observation directing concerned authorities to carry out the counseling process of selected candidates.
The minister in-charge replying to query made by lawmaker assured Chatterjee that the counseling process will be completed soon.