An initiative launched by the Congress government in Rajasthan to organise Baal Sabha (children’s assembly) of schools at public places in the villages has been extended to include the village elders, on whose advice the work for raising academic standards will be taken up. Distinguished villagers will also be made members of the school management committees.
The latest round of Baal Sabhas in the State was held on Tuesday, with a call made for enhancing the role of rural society in bringing qualitative improvement to school education. Principals of the government schools laid emphasis on reducing dropout rate of students and encouraging the rural families to send their children to schools.
At the Baal Sabha of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Amarsar, in Jaipur district’s Shahpura tehsil, Minister of State for Education Govind Singh Dotasara said his department would make an all-out effort for increasing enrolment of students and ensuring their stay at various levels in the schools.
Addressing the Baal Sabha at the Amarsar ‘chaupal’ (village square), Mr. Dotasara said the government schools would start holding their annual functions from this year, while the establishment of sports complexes on the school premises would help promote physical activities among young children.
Students taking part in the Baal Sabha presented an all-religion prayer, ‘Antakshari' (spoken parlour game) and songs and dances. A student, Aastha Saini, who presided over the Baal Sabha, delivered a powerful speech on the current state of girls’ education and challenges in future.
Mr. Dotasara said Mahatma Gandhi’s vision for education would be publicised during his 150th birth anniversary celebrations, while the initiatives such as the launch of Rajiv Gandhi career portal, opening of an English medium government school at each district headquarters and change of staffing pattern for appointment of teachers would go a long way in improving standards of education.
Donations announced
Minister of State for Technical Education Subhash Garg and Rajasthan School Education Council’s Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Borad also attended the Baal Sabha. Philanthropists announced donations of ₹1.12 crore on the occasion for creating infrastructure facilities in the local schools.
