Punjab Government’s decision to open a new chapter of ‘Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab’ in the State’s academics has virtually left the teachers feeling weighed down.
The Government school teachers across Punjab are feeling “burdened” as they have to teach several other things, under the Padho Punjab programme, along with the basic syllabus. These were the findings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s Estimates Committee, in its latest report on the School Education Department, tabled in the recently-concluded budget session.
Notably, Padho Punjab is the State’s ambitious learning enhancement programme, for the Classes VI up to X, and has succeeded in achieving encouraging results — owing to the Government school teachers’ efforts.
Taking note of the improvement among students under the programme, the House panel has suggested appointing separate volunteers for the same, besides extending this learning enhancement course right from the pre-primary level “so that the students could take full advantage”.
“The programme should be implemented from nursery level and every primary school should have a separate room for Anganwadi children where they can be provided good and quality education,” suggested the House panel in its report.
The ‘Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab’ project was a part of the Congress party’s election manifesto ahead 2017 Assembly elections, and was initiated soon after the party came to power in 2017. The State Government is focusing on making this project a success, as the programme has yielded results in “difficult” subjects of Maths, Science, Social Studies and English.
As per the data provided in the report, the students of upper primary classes (VI-VIII) have recorded 24 per cent progress in Math and Science, while 21 per cent and nine per cent was registered in Social Studies and English, respectively.
Students of Class IX and X have recorded 36 per cent and 35 per cent improvements in Maths, respectively, 19 per cent in English, 24 per cent in Social Studies, and 24 per cent and 25 per cent in Science, respectively.
The committee, in its report, has also expressed concern over the “very low” salary of the cook-cum-helpers under the Mid Day Meal programme, and that of the volunteers working at the Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) centres.
Underlining that the cook-cum-helpers are poorly paid, the Committee pointed out that the neighbouring Haryana is paying them more remuneration and Punjab should also pay them on par with them.
The Committee recommended increasing their salaries from Rs 1,700 to Rs 3,000, adding that they should be paid for 12 months instead of the current system of 10-month-salary. The panel noted that the Education Department has sent the proposal to the Finance Department on September 24, 2019, regarding enhancing the salary and no response has been received so far.
The panel also recommended increasing the remuneration of EGS volunteers to Rs 3,000.
The Committee has also suggested to set up a panel for the Best School Award. The award will be given on the basis of annual result of the school children and teachers’ availability, school infrastructure, co-curricular activities, students’ attendance and teachers’ availability, among others.
The committee is surprised to note that despite the installation of biometric attendance systems in the schools, it could not function as many schools do not have electricity. It has recommended making required budget provision to pay power bills.
The Education Department had informed the panel that biometric machines have been installed in 950 Government senior schools in the State.
“The committee recommends the Education Department to pay the electricity bills of all the schools at the earliest, by making the provision of the same in the budget.
The committee has also noticed theft of gas cylinders, used for cooking the mid-day meal, from the government schools situated in the villages. To check the same, the Committee has recommended the appointment of watchmen and other necessary staff in the schools.
