HRD min asks authorities to fill up vacant posts in govt schools

Union HRD Ministry on Wednesday  expressed concern over shortage of teachers in Delhi  Government-run schools and asked the authorities to fill up the  vacant posts at the earliest. The issue figured during a  meeting HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had with Delhi Chief Minister  Sheila Dikshit and Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely. Nearly 6,000 posts of teachers,  including that of nearly 250 principals, are currently lying  vacant in government-run schools in the national capital.

“The Union HRD Ministry  expressed its concern over shortage of teachers in Delhi,” said  an official who attended the meeting. Delhi government officials told  the meeting that more than 3,600 vacancies have already been  notified and the process for recruitment has begun. They said civic agency MCD has  also initiated the process of recruiting 4,500 teachers. Officials said it was also  decided in the meeting to bring down the student-teacher ratio  in city schools from current 1:50 to 1:30.

Top officials of the Delhi  government and the Ministry were also present in the meeting. In the meeting, Sibal expressed  his keenness to support the city government in expansion of  technical and vocational education in Delhi. Delhi government officials said  the Union Ministry also appreciated efforts of the city
government in making elementary education more purposeful. 

“The Ministry also stressed upon  the need of bringing special children into the mainstream  schooling,” they said. The Ministry also appreciated  computerisation of the education department which has  facilitated on-line checking of teachers attendance in schools. In the meeting, Education  Minister Lovely said over 30 Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas were  facing closure following coming into force of Right to Education  Act as the legislation has a provision for compulsory admission  of students in any school.

Admission into the  Government-run Pratibha Vikash Vidyalas is purely based on merit  as they were established to match the renowned private schools. Officials said the Ministry  indicated that comments of Law Department and National  Commission on Education will be obtained to ensure continuation
of these schools which have been imparting quality education.

The efforts of the city  government in implementing the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan scheme was  also complimented by the Union Ministry, officials said. Dikshit  informed Sibal about her government’s initiatives to ensure  proper implementation of the Right to Education