Union HRD Ministry on Wednesday expressed concern over shortage of teachers in Delhi Government-run schools and asked the authorities to fill up the vacant posts at the earliest.
The issue figured during a meeting HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely.
Nearly 6,000 posts of teachers, including that of nearly 250 principals, are currently lying vacant in government-run schools in the national capital.
“The Union HRD Ministry expressed its concern over shortage of teachers in Delhi,” said an official who attended the meeting.
Delhi government officials told the meeting that more than 3,600 vacancies have already been notified and the process for recruitment has begun.
They said civic agency MCD has also initiated the process of recruiting 4,500 teachers.
Officials said it was also decided in the meeting to bring down the student-teacher ratio in city schools from current 1:50 to 1:30.
Top officials of the Delhi government and the Ministry were also present in the meeting.
In the meeting, Sibal expressed his keenness to support the city government in expansion of technical and vocational education in Delhi.
Delhi government officials said the Union Ministry also appreciated efforts of the city government in making elementary education more purposeful.
“The Ministry also stressed upon the need of bringing special children into the mainstream schooling,” they said.
The Ministry also appreciated computerisation of the education department which has facilitated on-line checking of teachers attendance in schools.
In the meeting, Education Minister Lovely said over 30 Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas were facing closure following coming into force of Right to Education Act as the legislation has a provision for compulsory admission of students in any school.
Admission into the Government-run Pratibha Vikash Vidyalas is purely based on merit as they were established to match the renowned private schools.
Officials said the Ministry indicated that comments of Law Department and National Commission on Education will be obtained to ensure continuation of these schools which have been imparting quality education.
The efforts of the city government in implementing the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan scheme was also complimented by the Union Ministry, officials said. Dikshit informed Sibal about her government’s initiatives to ensure proper implementation of the Right to Education
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