CHANDIGARH: Haryana Education Minister Phool Chand Mullana on Tuesday announced steps to further improve the standard of education in the State in view of the changing world scenario.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Mullana said that these steps included making English and Mathematics compulsory subjects for clearing the examination, appointment of Computer and English teachers and imparting quality education through EDUSAT .

He added that the State Government had decided to increase the number of teachers' awards from 22 to 100 as a gesture to honour their services to society. The criteria for selection had also been relaxed and the award-winning teachers would be allowed two years' extension in service besides a cash prize of Rs 5,000 along with citation and a shawl.

It has also been decided that the private schools which had no playground could now use the playgrounds of private or government schools in their vicinity on payment of token money. Moreover, the sanctioned plans of the Education Department would not be sent to the Finance Department for their clearance. Mr. Mullana added that 1,392 vacant but sanctioned posts of school teachers would be filled up soon.

And to ensure proper functioning of the educational institutions in the State, 20 flying squads had been created at the headquarters and Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and senior officers of the districts had also been empowered to visit these institutions regularly for checking their functioning.

The Government had initiated an exercise to rationalise the teaching staff in order to post surplus teachers in those schools which were facing shortage.

While urban schools had more teachers, the remote and rural schools were without adequate number of teachers in spite of large number of students enrolled in such schools.

Replying to a question, R.S. Gujral, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Education conceded that the mid-day scheme had put an extra burden on the teachers as they had to do the work of stock-keeping but they had been provided a helper to cook the meals for the children. Steps were being undertaken to minimise the wastage under this scheme.

K.K. Khandelwal, Commissioner and Director General of School Education reiterated that education to students would now be imparted through the medium of Education Satellite (EDUSAT). Equipment would be installed by January 2006 in 191 schools.

All the government colleges in the State would be linked with EDUSAT. He added that the Continental and Vernacular teachers (C and V) would now be given the status of Masters. The NCERT syllabus had been adopted from Class Six to Eighth.The semester system was being introduced in all schools, he added.

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