Chandigarh, December 23
The School Education Department was rocked by a series of scams pertaining to the supply of library books, maps, science kits and notebooks. The science kits were found to be grossly overpriced.
Certain library books contained objectionable material.There were allegations of promoting firms that supplied substandard maps and practical copies to students through.
The controversy is likely to generate more debate with the interim report submitted by Justice (retd) AN Jindal Commission raising questions on the role of former Director General School Education (DGSE) KS Pannu. The commission has blamed him for ordering substandard material.
The Jindal Commission is learnt to have given a clean chit to Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka.
A fact-finding team of the Human Resources and Development Ministry had earlier reported that the department had purchased books and science kits from funds released under the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan in violation of Centre’s guidelines.
Pannu, in his report, had stated that the tendering process had been vitiated and that no effort was made to go through the contents of the books.
Adarsh Schools
The year saw yet another Adarsh School, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pet project, closing down, this time in Moga. More than 12 of the total 24 such schools have been shut down so far. Under a novel scheme, the government received applications from 500 panchayats offering land to private schools. These schools were expected to provide free education to 25 per cent poor but meritorious students of the area. But No decision has been taken on the issue till date.
Tackling absenteeism
The Education Department dismissed more than 600 teachers and employees for absenteeism. Most of them had gone on long leave abroad.
Significantly, at least 475 schools were closed down for failing to conform to the Right to Education Act. This led to a greater rush of admissions in government schools. It is worth mentioning that rural schools continue to face staff shortage while a large number of schools in towns and cities have surplus staff.
Most schools did not get funds for mid-day meals during the months of July and August. Also, there were reports of contractors abandoning supply mid-way.
Some good news
Despite complaints on poor supply, Punjab was placed second in the country by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development in the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme. Punjab, with an aggregate of 76.81 points, was a close second to Karnataka (77.79). It’s performance was way above the national average of 59. Punjab has been ranked among the top 10 states by the National University for Education Planning and the HRD Ministry in a report on school education. Punjab has improved its position from rank 13 in 2012 to rank 6 in 2013.
On the infrastructure index, the state has risen from from the ninth rank last year to sixth this year.
The School Education Department was rocked by a series of scams pertaining to the supply of library books, maps, science kits and notebooks. The science kits were found to be grossly overpriced.
Certain library books contained objectionable material.There were allegations of promoting firms that supplied substandard maps and practical copies to students through.
The controversy is likely to generate more debate with the interim report submitted by Justice (retd) AN Jindal Commission raising questions on the role of former Director General School Education (DGSE) KS Pannu. The commission has blamed him for ordering substandard material.
The Jindal Commission is learnt to have given a clean chit to Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka.
A fact-finding team of the Human Resources and Development Ministry had earlier reported that the department had purchased books and science kits from funds released under the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan in violation of Centre’s guidelines.
Pannu, in his report, had stated that the tendering process had been vitiated and that no effort was made to go through the contents of the books.
Adarsh Schools
The year saw yet another Adarsh School, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pet project, closing down, this time in Moga. More than 12 of the total 24 such schools have been shut down so far. Under a novel scheme, the government received applications from 500 panchayats offering land to private schools. These schools were expected to provide free education to 25 per cent poor but meritorious students of the area. But No decision has been taken on the issue till date.
Tackling absenteeism
The Education Department dismissed more than 600 teachers and employees for absenteeism. Most of them had gone on long leave abroad.
Significantly, at least 475 schools were closed down for failing to conform to the Right to Education Act. This led to a greater rush of admissions in government schools. It is worth mentioning that rural schools continue to face staff shortage while a large number of schools in towns and cities have surplus staff.
Most schools did not get funds for mid-day meals during the months of July and August. Also, there were reports of contractors abandoning supply mid-way.
Some good news
Despite complaints on poor supply, Punjab was placed second in the country by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development in the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme. Punjab, with an aggregate of 76.81 points, was a close second to Karnataka (77.79). It’s performance was way above the national average of 59. Punjab has been ranked among the top 10 states by the National University for Education Planning and the HRD Ministry in a report on school education. Punjab has improved its position from rank 13 in 2012 to rank 6 in 2013.
On the infrastructure index, the state has risen from from the ninth rank last year to sixth this year.
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