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School Education
Schemes
Universalization of Elementary Education in the state of Punjab
To achieve the aim of Universalisation of Elementary Education
following steps have been taken :-
Opening of New Schools
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The
State has opened Primary Schools in each habitat Village with a
minimum enrolment of 50 students.
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In
Scheduled Caste Bastis and remote hilly areas the State Government
has opened either branch schools or full fledged schools even for
less than 50 students. This way the students do not have to walk to
school for more than one kilometer.
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In
order to cater to the educational needs of the sub-mountanious area,
Kandi, Bate, Scheduled Caste Bastis and New colonies which crop up
due to migratory population from other states, new Govt. Primary
Schools have been opened in 1997-98.
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It
is also proposed to provide buildings to various building-less
schools.
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Toilets
and Drinking water facilities are being provided in each school.
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Pupil/
teacher ratio of 1/40 is being adopted in Government Primary Schools
under the rationalization of transfer policy. All the surplus
teachers have been posted to staff deficient schools.
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All these efforts have been made to improve the enrollment and retention of
children in the Primary Schools.
UPGRADATION
OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS
To attain Universalisation of Elementary Education, 500 Government Primary
Schools were upgraded to middle schools in 1996-97. During 1995-96, 1000
schools were upgraded to Middle schools by providing additional infrastructure
like the buildings and teachers by the Government .
Some of the important points in this regard are as under:
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In
the State of Punjab, Primary Directorate of Education was created in
Feb, 1978.
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Under
the Department of Education more than 13943 schools are
functioning out of which 12925 are Government .Primary Schools .
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There
are 939 Branch Schools which have been established by the
Government.
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79
Aided Schools have been established by the Government.
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Out
of these schools 659 Government Primary Schools Buildings require
immediate major repairs.
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There
are 278 Government Primary Schools which are buildings less.
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213
Government Primary Schools which are functioning from the premises
of religious places like Gurdwara,Temple, Dharamshala or
Masjid. The State Government is spending a huge amount of funds
for the Salary of the teachers as well as on the other component
i.e. Medical Reimbursement, wages, Travelling Allowance, Office
Expenses, Rent & Taxes etc.
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Inspite of all these efforts the standard of the Primary Education has lot of
scope for improvements. The main reason for this is the lack of the basic
needs of the schools like infrastructure and staff.
During the year 1996-97, Rs 1100 lacs were earmarked for the construction of
buildings and during the year 97-98, Rs.1100 lacs have been released for the
provision of new construction, additional room and major repairs of the schools.
These funds will be utilised through Rural Development, Punjab.
During the year 1997-98, Rs 100 lacs were proposed to provide adequate seating
arrangement for the Government Primary Schools. However, even this amount is not
sufficient to fulfill the requirements of all the schools of the State.
At
present there is no Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at providing infrastructure
in the Government Primary Schools in the State of Punjab. However, under
the Operation Black Board Scheme, which was operational from 1986 to 1993, in
all 12925 schools were covered in three phases. The material and equipment,
which was supplied under this scheme has already been utilized or condemned due
to passage of time and has not been replaced by any other scheme
other centrally sponsored schemes by Government of India for provision of
infrastructure in the schools.
To
reduce the drop-out rate in the Government Primary Schools of the State,
the Department has to take certain measures for making the
Education learning a more joyful phenomena especially for the pupils.
The following type of infrastructure is required to uplift the standard
of Primary Education in the State:-
Buildings
Thoughfully designed buildings are to be provided to the building-less
schools with adequate accommodation and playing facilities for the students.
This should also cover major repairs wherever due.
Teaching
and learning equipment
Innovative, immaginative and interesting teaching and learning equipment like
books, black boards, maps, colourful charts, models, globes etc. are also to be
provided in the schools for making the learning process more joyful and
purposeful..
Extra
curricular & co-curricular activities
To make the Education interesting extra curriculur and co-curricular
activities are also required like Swings, Sea-Saw, Slide and other
interesting games should be provided in all the schools of the State
in a phased manner. The sports material is also essential in the
Government Primary Schools. The toys which help in teaching to the kids
may also be provided.
Science
material
For imparting the basic knowledge and understanding of
Science, Science kits & Math kits are to be provided to the Government
Primary Schools. Science based toys which help in learning for
the child may also be provided to the Government Primary Schools to
raise the standard of education at the lowest level.
Incentive
Schemes To Improvement of Enrolment and
Retention
Various incentive schemes are provided by the Punjab Government for
retention of Scheduled Castes students. Following is the gist of
some of the schemes operational in the State:
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Scheduled
Caste girl students are paid attendance incentive scholarship
(80% attendance) @ Rs.50/- per month. During 1996-97 the
number of beneficiaries under this Scheme was 399399. This
amount is distributed by the Social Welfare Department Punjab.
Implementation of this Scheme has improved the attendance
and drop-out rate of girl students.
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A
scholarship @ 30/- per month is given to Vimukat Jatis students.
During 1996-97, 7317 students got scholarships under this scheme and
the expenditure was Rs.16.73 lacs.
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Free
text books are provided by Punjab School Education Board to all the
Scheduled Caste students at Primary level.
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Mid
day meal scheme: This scheme has been introduced in 40
low female literacy blocks in the State in 9 districts, namely,
Patiala, Ferozepur, Mukatsar, Mansa, Faridkot, Amritsar, Bhatinda,
Sangrur and Moga for improvement in the enrollment of girl students
and their retention. Under the scheme three Kilograms of grain is
given to the each student of these blocks. This has helped in
improving the retention of students in Government Primary
Schools. The number of beneficiaries under this centrally sponsored
scheme are 295039.
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Government
Primary schools have been provided infrastructure in the shape of
furniture, teaching & learning material, toys,
swings etc. to attract children to the schools in rural
as well as urban areas under the Centrally sponsored Operation Black
Board and Border Area Schemes.
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Special
Grant to scheduled caste girl students.
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Scholarships
to the brilliant economically poor students.
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Scholarships
to students of Sainik School Kapurthala, Public School Nabha
and Yadvindra Public School Patiala.
General Scholarships.
Scholarship to brilliant scheduled caste students.
Scholarship to the children of Riot Victim families.
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