School Management Committees (SMCs) will soon be responsible for all the activities in State Government-run schools. It includes timely school opening/closing, fund distribution for Mid-Day Meal (MDM), stipends, uniforms, books, ensuring regular attendance of students and infrastructure. The initiative is being taken to increase the participation of rural representatives and enable teachers to focus more on teaching.
There are around 40,177 Government schools across the State where the work is divided among teachers, Bal Sansad and SMC members. “90 per cent of the students’ force is studying in State Government schools wherein SMC plays a vital role. But, their participation is minute in most of the schools compared to the teachers and students,” said Human Resource Development (HRD) Secretary Aradhana Patnaik while inaugurating a State level Symposium on the Efficiency of Right to Education and SMC at the State capital on Monday.
The team headed by Patnaik inspecting some schools of a district every month has noticed the inactiveness of the SMC president and members comprising villagers and parents while the teacher or Principal deployed as Committee Secretary of the is the only one to take interest. “We are even receiving complains on the tussle between Village Education Committee (VEC) and SMC from many districts due to which there is no one to check the accounts. Moreover, some members of SMC are unaware of their job profile,” Patnaik added.
Eventually, it is resulting into improper utilisation of funds granted by the Government for school development. The HRD has decided to train the members of SMC regarding the brief details of their job. A sub-committee under the SMC will also be made. “We will judge the performance of the SMC members once they start taking in-charge of all schools activities and then punish or felicitate them,” Patnaik said.
The HRD Secretary’s instruction created a sense of awareness among the SMC members participating here from various district schools. “I assure to run the Government schemes like Additional Nutritional Programme of providing egg or fruits thrice a week in the MDM. Also, I will try to add items in the meal with the allotted money,” said Pushpa Aind, SMC member from Utkramit Prathmik Vidyalaya, Karra block, Khunti. Another SMC member lakshmi Oraon of Rajkiya Prathmik Vidyalaya, lohardaga said, “We succeeded in fulfilling the enrolment of drop-out students under the School Chale, Chalayein Abhiyan. I hope to work in the same spirit for other assigned duties.”