The Department of School Education and literacy has taken the initiative to merge all such schools which have fewer enrollments with the nearby Government schools that have students and teachers in
abundance. With the motto to manage the teacher-student ratio and to utilise the school buildings for other resourceful activities, the decision has been considered.
According to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) guidelines, at every one kilometre there should be a primary school and at every two kilometre there must be a middle school catering to the requirements of the clusters and to provide quality education to children.
“As per the prescribed norms, schools that have low enrollment under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan can be merged with Government schools located in the area within the specific radius to provide better approach and education to the kids. The merger will not just cater to the requirement of both students and the teachers but will also minimize the cost of maintenance of several schools that are just functioning with few kids and teachers,” said, School Education and literacy department Secretary, Aradhana Patnaik.
With the implication of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, changes have been incorporated into the SSA approach, strategies and norms too. As interpreted in the National Curriculum Framework 2005, with implications for a systemic revamp of the entire content and process of education with significant implications for curriculum, teacher education, educational planning including the management of the school the entire education system change can be altered.
Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers can be strengthened by merger process to strengthen the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level.
“So far a survey is being conducted to identify such schools which have low footfall. District primary education council that consists of DCs, MlAs will submit its report soon. Few districts like Ranchi, Saraikela, Dhanbad have already completed its survey. The entire merger process will be completed by August 2016. However, we have also considered the geographical feasibility, schools that are located in far fetched areas will not be merged and will function independently,” Patnaik added.
Notably, the survey under the supervision of District Education Officers (DSEs) in the state capital has been completed and soon the report will be tabled. “As many as 142 schools have been identified under the prescribed rules for the merger process giving appropriate reasons for the course. The merger procedure will also create post in primary and upgraded primary schools for the teachers in the coming days,” Ranchi DC, Manoj Kumar said.
Similarly, Khunti district will complete the survey procedure within a week. “The survey is in its final stage. Soon, after the compilation of the report, a step ahead will be considered. The merger process will be completed in the stimulated time,” Khunti DC, Chandra Shekhar added.