Sisodia writes to L-G about ‘schizophrenic’ policy-making process

NEW DELHI: In a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday called the L-G’S policy-making process “schizophrenic” and said improving government schools would be difficult if this continued.

Referring to the government’s proposal to set up ‘Schools of Excellence’, which involves starting English-medium schools at par with private establishments, Sisodia rued of having no right to select teachers.

He said officers had been asked not to show files to him.

“Officers tell me they have strict instructions from your office that they are not to show any files related to teachers to the education minister. The elected government is committed to providing the highest quality of education in government schools. But, if this schizophrenic policy-making process continues, then this dream of improving government schools will never be fulfilled,” Sisodia wrote to Baijal in his letter.

The conflict has emerged as recruitment of teachers is under the services department, which is under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor.

Calling the policy “bizarre”, which he claimed is making a “mockery” of the education system, Sisodia, who is also the education minister, asked Baijal if the government’s job was only to build school buildings and buy desks and that of the L-G was to plan about teachers.

“This is the most bizarre process of policy making. An education minister is supposed to make a decision about school without knowing anything about teachers! Is education about building classrooms and buying desks?” he asked.

Sisodia explained that based on the directions of the chief secretary, he had received an altered cabinet note from the directorate of education on July 7. In that note, the CS had removed all mention of teachers, how they would be selected, hiring of non-teaching staff such as ‘aayahs’ and so on as it came under the services department.

“So effectively it means that the elected government should provide for buildings and infrastructure and the L-G would plan for teachers. Are not we making a mockery of education? Is this the way to plan for schools?” he wrote.

Sisodia asked how government schools could be improved if no policy matters were placed before the minister.