Govt ropes in former bureaucrats to boost school education quality

The Centre on Thursday rolled out ‘Vidyanjali’ to improve quality of government schools through voluntary participation of retired bureaucrats, teachers and others as well as Indian diaspora.

Those who are willing to offer remedial teaching to students can participate. The programme, brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was launched by Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani at a function here.

The ministry in coordination with the states will implement the school volunteer programme as a pilot project at 2,200 government schools identified across 21 states, including Karnataka, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. The Unesco and World Bank are partners in the pilot project.

“Each of the states have identified 100 schools under the programme,” School Education Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia said. Addressing the event, the HRD minister said the programme will be extended to all the government schools by the end of this year.

Those willing to spare their time in remedial teaching at the government schools in their vicinity will have to first get themselves registered at ‘Vidyanjali’ portal along with their details.

They can also apply for participating in the programme through android-based mobile application, Vidyanjali. Both the web portal and mobile applications were made application soon after launching of the programme. School authorities concerned will then call the volunteers for their evaluation and submit their feedback to the government.

The Centre will take a final call on the applicants and accordingly inform those selected. Under the programme, volunteer teachers can hold sessions with students in one or more of various co-scholastic activities, including teaching them to read, creative writing, public speaking, performing arts, academic counselling and imparting of life-skills.

“Retired teachers can be engaged in classroom teaching based on the requirement,” the HRD minister said. During the event, the ministry showed a video footage showing various eminent personalities, including Union ministers Rajyavardhan Rathore, Babul Supriyo and Kiren Rijiju, author Ruskin Bond, cricketer Anil Kumble, footballer Baichung Bhutia and actress Twinkle Khanna interacting with students under the project.