Shillong, Nov 27: The State Advisory Council (SAC) headed by the Education minister Dr RC Laloo as its chairman decided to submit its recommendations to the state government on the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) in the state in its first meeting held Tuesday.
Laloo told reporters after the meeting, “We would submit our recommendations pertaining to the implementation of the RTE in the state within one week, which would then be examine by the state government.”
The SAC has identified a total of 12,123 neighbourhood schools including 8633 lower primary schools and 3490 upper primary schools.
Laloo said, “We have recommended that these identified as neighbourhood schools should have basic infrastructures including trained teachers as per provisions of the act.”
Elaborating more on the nature of the neighbourhood schools, Laloo said that schools should be set up not less than one kilometres for lower primary schools and three kilometres for upper primary schools which the whole concept is that these schools should be walkable to the students of the respective areas.
Laloo said, “These schools will cater to more than 200 students at the lower primary level and 600 for upper primary level.”
However, 659 schools which are distinctive in nature including those central and army schools besides special schools have been exempted from the purview of the Act. The reason is that the act will be implemented only in those schools which have co-ed education.
State principal secretary in charge of Education, PS Thangkhiew said, “We have recommended the appointment of joint director in each district to ensure that RTE is being implemented in these neighbourhood schools.”
Moreover on the financial requirement for the implementation of the act during 2014-15, the SAC has estimated Rs 690 crore for lower primary schools to be spread over 5 years while Rs 262.66 crores for upper primary schools.
“The SAC would submit the financial requirement estimated to the SSA Central Society Board for approval,” Thangkhiew informed adding that it would be done in a phase manner.
The meeting also discusses the implementation of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) – in which there will be no detention or in other words no examination would be required.
“We have come up with a handbook to advice the teachers on how to conduct the CCE based on students performances,” Laloo said even as he informed that the council has also recommended the academic calendar to the state government.
Laloo said the implementation of the RTE will further check the high drop outs rates in the state.
Laloo further informed that the central government has amended the provision pertaining to the school managing committees. “The school managing committees constituted minority based on religion or language shall only play advisory functions in such schools,” he said.- By Our Reporter
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