The Arvind Kejriwal Government has approved a proposal to appoint estate manager in over 1,100 Government run schools in the national Capital to maintain and upgrade the building and ensure security of the properties. The Government claims that the managers would be retired teachers or people.
Earlier, the power was vested with the Head of School (HoS) or principal or deputy director of education to maintain and upgrade school building and other requirements for minor works (up to Rs five lakh) through Vidhalaya Kalyan Samiti while major works being maintained by Public Works Department.
The Kejriwal Government also granted power to principals who can appoint clerk for clerical work of the school. In some schools, teachers used to do clerical or administrative job. The Delhi Cabinet has approved these proposals of Education Department on Monday.
“The Cabinet’s decision will help to reduce burden on the principals and teachers and they can now focus on imparting quality of education,” said a source close to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Top sources told The Pioneer that the decision is being interpreted that the AAP Government is trying to appoint its own volunteers as estate manager to control school management.
Currently, principal has power to appoint only data entry operator for the school. It would be pertinent to mention that each school has depositing and disbursing officer of grade I to disburse salary and other administrative works.
Earlier, the Delhi Government had allocated about Rs 700 crore for creating new earthquake-resistant infrastructure in its Government run schools by June next year. The Government is also planning to develop 50 model schools. Plans have been formulated to provide the required modern facilities in these schools, as also to motivate teachers through specialised training.
A survey of student strength versus class rooms was conducted by the Directorate of Education for identifying the schools where students’ classroom ratio was found to be around 50 or more. Following which 193 such schools have been identified having student ratio of more than 50.
