Education Commissioner reviews 'Chalo School Chalen' campaign in Gondia

There is no substitute for education and the country's progress is possible only through it, so education must become the focus of society, Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh said. He was speaking at a review meeting of the "Chalo School Chalen" (Let's Go to School) campaign held at the auditorium of the Gondia district collector's office. He said students should get quality education along with necessary facilities and skill-based learning.

The meeting, held on the 9th, was attended by District Collector Mandar Patki, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Jenit Chandra Dontula, District Nodal Officer Prakash Mukund, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Principal Rajkumar Hivare and other concerned officials.

Singh said today's students are the country's future, and quality education can quickly brighten their lives. He said the government's various schemes should reach schools effectively, and funds should be provided through the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) to meet school needs so students get basic facilities.

He said different programmes and competitions should be held in schools for the all-round development of students. Identifying students' academic weaknesses and taking corrective steps is the responsibility of teachers, and teachers must play their role properly, he said.

He said officials connected with the education sector should keep working continuously to raise the quality of students in the district, so that standards improve and good results are seen in the coming period.

Singh said the sustainable development policy set by the United Nations includes education, and funds are being provided so that all children in the world get quality education. He said the central government's NITI Aayog and the state government have identified aspirational districts and talukas, which include four talukas of Gondia district: Salekasa, Deori, Arjuni Morgaon and Sadak Arjuni. Schools in these talukas need special attention to ensure quality education for students. He said studies also show that dropout rates among differently abled students rise after primary school, so local teachers should win parents' trust and ensure such students are enrolled in the right schools.

Singh said the capability of the education department's resource persons should be tested from time to time, and they should become more capable and visit schools every month to review academic quality. Apart from the education department, other administrative officers should adopt a school each and contribute to its development. He also suggested that the quality of food served to students under the PM POSHAN scheme be checked by having a student's mother taste the food.

He said priority should be given to spending more funds on education, health and nutrition to meet students' basic needs. Teachers who perform well should be honoured with certificates, which will motivate teachers and improve the academic quality of schools, Singh said. Students' quality and ability should be identified from the anganwadi stage or Class 1 itself, and guidance given accordingly. Information on why a girl student is not attending school is available through the U-DISE system, and this information should be used to take necessary steps to improve girls' attendance in schools.

Singh said efforts should be made to build quality education facilities within the district itself so that students do not have to go to another district to study up to Class 12. He said every school should have clean drinking water, clean toilets, a clean school and campus, a playground, boundary wall, electricity, necessary furniture and e-facilities.

He said artificial intelligence (AI) technology should be used appropriately in the education sector in keeping with changing times. Vocational education is today's need, and because this is an age of competition, special emphasis is needed on students' skill development. He also said the bond between villages and schools should be strengthened to increase society's participation in the education process.

Singh said education is not confined to books alone, but students also learn through everyday behaviour, so they need experience-based, behaviour-centred and skill-based education. Saying that "My School Empowerment" is not the education department's responsibility alone but a collective responsibility of society, and that administration, teachers, parents and society must work together to deliver quality education to every student in the district, Singh directed that the "Chalo School Chalen" campaign be run more effectively. District Collector Mandar Patki gave the necessary information on improving the standard of education in the district and said the Education Commissioner's directions would be fully complied with.

After this, Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh visited various schools in the district. Checking the facilities available in the schools, he said that where there is a shortage of teachers, the school management committee should come forward and encourage local educated residents to volunteer to teach on a temporary basis. He also directed that any room lying vacant in a school be converted into a study room.