ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Aug 30: Amid reports that high admission fees are being charged in various government schools in many regions of the state despite the restrictive orders in this regard from state government, a recent clarification in the State Assembly by Education Minister Taba Tedir has revealed that the Education Department has been allocated a total of Rs 74747.49 lakhs for the 2020-21 fiscal to develop infrastructure and other facilities in government schools.
Responding to a question raised by the Congress MLA Wanglin Lowangdong in the recently concluded one-day session of the State Assembly, Tedir in his written reply while giving the break-up informed that for 2020-21 Education Department has been allocated Rs 43,878.19 lakhs for Elementary Education, Rs 23,627.30 lakhs for Secondary Education and Rs 7242 lakhs  for Higher & Technical Education. The reply further added the fund has been allocated under plan sectors including the centrally sponsored schemes, but will be fully utilized subject to finalization of RE-2020-21.
Responding to a query on the steps being taken to improve the system and for creation of infrastructure in existing schools which the MLA claimed as “on the verge of collapsing,” Tedir replied that fund for the above purposes is provided under the Chief Minister Samast Shiksa Yojana (CMSSY). Rs 100 crore was allocated in 2018-19 and Rs 1559.99 lakhs was allocated during 2019-20, the reply mentioned, adding that Rs 9999.21 lakhs in 2018-19 and Rs.1299.99 lakhs in 2019-20 were allocated to different districts under CMSSY for infrastructure development of government schools.
Answering to query regarding why textbooks for the current academic session haven’t been distributed so far, the Minister stated that under Secondary Education, the Department has already issued Operational Guidelines for all Government schools to all DDSEs of the districts for distributing textbooks immediately. The Heads of Schools have also been directed to make necessary arrangements in schools for issuing textbooks through parents/representatives on class-wise basis adhering to Covid-19 SOPs, the reply stated. 
Clarifying on the specific reason for being late in distribution, the Minister informed that NCERT authorities in Guwahati had conveyed that they were yet to receive some subject text books in their godown from NCERT New Delhi till the first week of August 2020 due to the nation/state-wise lockdown. However, the NCERT authorities have assured that as the textbooks for all subjects have arrived at their godown now, they will be distributed to all the districts by the second week of September 2020. Regarding distribution of textbooks under Elementary Education, the reply stated that as per various district reports from the DDSEs, textbooks for the current academic session have been received in the district headquarters and have currently reached at Block levels for further distribution to schools when they become functional.

The reply further clarified that due to the prevailing pandemic and nation-wide lockdown the schools are yet to be reopened and a final decision in this regard is still awaited. Although due to the pandemic and indefinite closure of schools the textbooks are positioned at various district Headquarters and Blocks, necessary guidelines in this regard for distribution have already been sent to the DDSEs for further necessary action and it is only after reopening of schools, distribution of textbooks shall be done maintaining all SOPs, the Minister assured in his reply.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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