Punjab won’t have schools with less than 20 pupils
LUDHIANA: The previous SAD-BJP government acted in haste while upgrading schools across the state without providing staff and basic infrastructure, said Punjab education minister Aruna Chaudhary.
A total of 373 schools were upgraded from middle to higher and senior secondary levels in the election year. The minister said education department officials have been directed to submit a report on such schools to review the previous government’s decision. The government has also decided to merge schools having less than 20 students with other schools, said the minister, who was in Ludhiana to attend the annual convocation of Satish Chander Dhawan Government College.
“We have asked the director public instructions to submit a report of number of government schools with less than 20 students. After receiving the report, we will explore the possibility of merger of such schools with bigger ones. Students and teachers are suffering due to shortage of staff in most of primary and middle government schools.”
Replying to a query, the minister said the government would make certain changes in the admission process to meritorious schools. “But nothing has been finalised as yet,” she said.
To overcome staff shortage, the department has decided to allot stations to the newly promoted lectures by next week. Around 20 lecturers have raised objections against the seniority due to which the process of station allotment has been delayed, added the minister.
“Due to financial crunch, the state government has no plans to fill vacant post of permanent teachers in government colleges in the state,” she added.