HMs to take classes this year

Schools re-open today; evaluation of students, teachers made mandatory

According to a circulation issued by the Education Department, the Headmasters cannot cite administrative work for not taking classes. They will have to teach lessons to the pupils for the minimum hours fixed in the time table.

The Education Department has come up with various initiatives to ensure better performance. A 27-point guideline for planned academic activities and integrated progress of the pupils has been formulated under the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. The guidelines have been circulated to all schools, Block Education Officers and Block Resource Officers. More responsibility has been given to BEOs and Headmasters to monitor the performance, BEO Nagendra Prasad told Deccan Herald.
The BEOs will also monitor the performance of the headmasters in ensuring the progress of the school. They will have to submit a progress report to the DDPI on the first week of each month. The strategy of the Department is to achieve progress with the joint efforts of the BEO and the headmasters. The Block Resource Centres will act as link between the two.

The headmaster must compulsorily evaluate assistant teachers and record it separately with the signature of the latter.  The principal objective of all the initiatives to ensure cent percent result in all the schools.

Annual plans
While schools usually draw up a year plan on each academic year, this time, the physical education instructors and crafts teachers too shall have to come with a similar plan and obtain the approval of the headmaster. Apart from this, science club, arts club, language club, eco club, consumersí club, culture club, sports club and vocational guidance club will have to be formed in all the schools. The clubs should too should formulate annual plans and implement them effectively for the comprehensive development of the pupils.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, BEO M N Nagendra Prasad said the onus has been put this time on the headmasters. ìSchools could improve their performance if headmasters discharge their duties and responsibilities efficiently. They are given more responsibility this year to reiterate their commitment. The performance of assistant teachers too would improve if the headmasters act diligently. This would in turn improve quality of teaching and consequently the result, he explained.

The BEO said bridge course was not being implemented properly in some schools and instructions have issued to ensure the strict implementation of the programme. A preliminary examination will have to be conducted in the first week of the academic year to gauge the learning ability of the newly-admitted children. Bridge course should be conducted for the children found lagging and an evaluation test should be conducted after one month of the course.

Evaluation
Teachers shall ìadoptî students lagging in studies for remedial teaching. Such teachers shall obtain the details of the students and keep updated their parents, the subject teacher and the class teacher on the pupilsí progress. Instructions have also been given to conduct parentsí meet regularly to invite suggestions and guidance.
The Education Department, no doubt, has drawn ambitious plans to improve the performance of the schools this year. Obviously, the end result depends on the successful implementation of the plan.