The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Harassment will cost schools dearly: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Harassment will cost schools dearly: Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

The School Education Minister, N. Rajyalaxmi, discussing a point with the Principal Secretary (School Education), I.V. Subba Rao, during the State-level conference of Principals in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The APREI Society secretary, R. Satyanarayan a, is seen on the right.

HYDERABAD, SEPT.13. Taking a serious view of the suicide committed by a 10th standard girl due to alleged harassment by her teacher, the School Education Minister, N. Rajyalaxmi, has warned that schools which harass students will face criminal cases and de-recognition.

Speaking at the inaugural function of a three-day principals' conference of Andhra Pradesh Residential Educational Institutions here on Monday, Ms. Rajyalaxmi referred to the suicide and said the DEO, Ranga Reddy district, had been asked to immediately suspend the teacher, conduct a full-fledged inquiry and submit a report by tomorrow.

She promised to mete out stringent punishment to the teacher if found responsible.

The Minister expressed her ire that such incidents were happening in spite of her repeated warnings.

Directive to Principals

She asked the Principals of the APREI Society not to harass students in the name of discipline or studies but to develop a cordial and friendly relationship with them.

Referring to the requirement of Rs. 200 crores for providing infrastructure and other basic amenities in residential schools run by the APREI Society, she said the Government was facing funds crunch and called for seeking a loan from a financial institution or monetary assistance from philanthropists or voluntary bodies.

As part of the literacy programme taken up by the State Government, she also suggested that Gurukal schools be adopted.

Computer education

The Minister said computer education should be taken up in a big way in the residential institutions and wanted it to be included as part of the curriculum from sixth standard onwards. The Government would introduce multimedia courses in 12 schools this year and emphasised the need to impart vocational education and scientific knowledge.

She asked the principals to pay special attention to improve the pass percentage in Urdu medium residential schools which was only 53.6 per cent as against 94.9 per cent achieved by rest of the gurukul schools. She suggested that special coaching classes should be conducted to improve the performance of Urdu schools.

Ms. Rajyalaxmi said the educational standards should be improved in tune with the changing times and said that drastic changes should be made in teachers' training programme.

Core group mooted

The principal secretary to Government, School Education, I V Subba Rao, wanted principals to form a core group for each subject with a view to developing new materials and updating the curriculum. He also asked them to form a Technology in Education group for promoting computer education.

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