After the successful execution of ‘Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana’ plan in association with Indian Railway, the Government has signed MoU for taking school students for a joy ride. Department of School Education and literacy under its expedition programme has initiated steps recently following a Cabinet decision arranging annual educational tour for the school goers.
Also the school excursion programme executed in 2016 under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan’s (SSA) ‘Cultural Exchange Programme’ has not just been confined to the adjoining States but in a bid to expand the horizon of students, this year, the students will get a chance to visit four different States.
As per the plan of the Department, after September 15 during ‘Durga Pujo’ vacation, 4,000 students will be taken on a trip covering several States. Along with the students, 50 teachers whose performances have helped in fetching better grades or those teachers who have taken up some activities that had proved beneficial for both students and schools will accompany the students. The detailed procedure of selecting students including teachers has been sent to all the District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Superintendent of Education (DSEs).
“The excursion trip is like a reward for all the meritorious candidates, teachers who have performed exceptionally well in their studies and have delivered their duties with utmost sincerity. Criteria of selecting students for the trip depends primarily on their academics, research and innovation ventures taken up in the recent years including students with 100 per cent attendance will be given preference,” said, Secretary of Department of School Education and literacy Aradhana Patnaik.
By the end of August, the Department has asked the DSEs, DEOs to prepare the lists of eligible candidates including teachers for getting final consent of the Department officials.
“Four trains covering the routes Delhi-Agra, Mumbai, Mysore-Bengaluru and Darjeeling have been identified. Each train will carry nearly 950 students including teachers and will be taken to different destinations. Different government school students from across the districts will be in each group to maintain uniformity,” the Secretary added.
In an attempt to boost the students’ temperament and also to ensure the success of ‘Mukhyamantri Shaikshik Bhraman Yojana’ each team will have to compile a detailed report about the importance of places where they have been taken during the weeklong expedition.
With the aim to provide quality education to government school students at par with the renowned private schools, now the students studying at government cradles will also get opportunity to explore places of historical and cultural significance.
Notably, in 2016 alone from Ranchi District 150 students were taken to Bihar while a similar number of students from Simdega District were taken to Odisha. looking at the benefits of the programme and after the successful accomplishment of educational tour, DSEs are preparing the lists.
“Few days back, we have received the details of the educational tour programme. We are yet to convey the message in all the schools. However, earlier during the meeting with the school Principals, some details about the programme have been already shared,” said, Ranchi DSE Shivendra Kumar.