Lokayukta issues 11-point fiat for quality education

Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao has issued 11-point directions to the Education Department to improve quality of education in government schools.

The directions come in the wake of Lokayukta’s visit to several government primary schools in the State and finding out that the standard was not up to the mark.
He visited several schools in Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bidar, Gulbarga, Haveri, Gadag and Dharwad districts. Rao later had a discussion with top officials in the Education department on the need to improve the quality of education in these schools.

In the directions, the Lokayukta has asked the Deputy Directors of Public Instruction to contact ‘convent schools’ and ‘standard private school managements’ so that government school teachers can go to these schools and observe the teaching methodology there.

Interaction

Also, convent school teachers may visit the government schools and teach the students there. The interaction should take place at least once in a month, he has stated.
The DDPIs have been asked to prepare school-wise report and send it to the chief executive officers of respective Zilla Panchayats, who in turn will review it and send it to the Education Secretary.

The Commissioner of the Education Department has been asked to scrutinise these reports and forward them to secretary for Primary Education.

The monitoring system should be reviewed every three months, the directions stated. The principal secretary of Education Department has to send a consolidated status report to the registrar, Lokayukta every six months.

Homework in school

Another direction given to schools is to ensure that the homework is completed by students in the school under the teachers’ supervision. At least two subjects should be covered everyday.

Also, milk and snacks should be given at the end of the homework period to ensure regular participation. It will be monitored regularly by Block Education Officers, the
The Lokayukta has also suggested schools to conduct inter-school debates, quiz and writing competitions to improve communication skills and general knowledge of students.
Director Primary Education, Dev Prakash said “We will discuss with Commissioner of Public Instruction, and chalk out the practicalities and the manner in which the said directions can be effectively implemented.”

It is not that the government schools do not have talented teachers. In fact, these are the creamy layer of teachers as they have been selected though entrance exams. However, this talent needs to be ignited, he added.