The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Make education a State subject: Bengal Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 09, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Make education a State subject: Bengal Minister

Staff Reporter

Kranti Biswas, Primary Education Minister of West Bengal. — Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

HYDERABAD: The West Bengal Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Kanthi Biswas, has favoured the idea of shifting education from Concurrent to State list and making State Governments full-fledged implementing agencies.

The Centre's role in promotion of education should be limited to bearing the expenditure since the State Governments could not be expected to meet the total cost, he told a seminar on `Right to education bill - 2005' organised by Andhra Pradesh United Teachers Federation.

Mr. Biswas favoured major budgetary allocation for school education to meet the challenges in the sector from foreign countries. He said there was not a single school in West Bengal without Government support. This had enabled the Government to enjoy complete control over schools. But, the situation was very different in Andhra Pradesh.

Noted IIT coach, C. Ramaiah, said the question was how the private institutions would implement the enactment on right to education. He wanted gram panchayats to take care of the basic infrastructure of schools in villages.

Bill yet to take shape

K. Jojaiah, a teacher leader, said 15 rounds of discussions had taken place on the policy matter, but the bill was still to get a full shape. He opposed allocation of powers to local bodies in matters pertaining to the appointment, transfer and imposition of punishments to teachers.

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