Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar, has said that the government would formulate a policy in a couple of months to encourage people’s participation in the upkeep of school buildings.
Addressing the inaugural function of the District Primary and High School Teachers’ Sahitya Sammelan held as part of the 111th birth anniversary celebrations of the Jnanpith award winner late Kota Shivaram Karanth, here on Thursday, Mr. Ratnakar said there were 50,000 school buildings in the State and it was nearly impossible to repair all of them together.
If philanthropists came forward and donated money, the repair of the schools in rural areas could be taken up. Such philanthropists could be made office-bearers in school development and management committees.
The government would also come out with a family-friendly policy for teachers in a couple of months. This will ensure that husband and wife would get their postings in one place.
He said he had already directed the Principal Secretary of the Department to prepare a note in this regard.
The government would decide whether an amendment to the existing laws needed to be made or a new ordinance was required to implement the policy.
A list of teacher couples seeking posting at one place would be prepared, he said.
Vacancies
Mr. Ratnakar said the government had taken steps to fill 12,000 of the 24,000 vacancies in the teaching posts. Nearly 4,800 teachers are expected to retire mid-term. The government has decided to extend their services till March 31, he said.
Favouring a three-year cap on the tenure of Block Education Officers, he said this would give opportunities for more teachers to serve as BEOs.
