ABTA general secy criticises education policy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 APRIL: Criticizing the Central government’s new education policy which has been implemented from 1 April this year the general secretary of the ABTA ( All Bengal Teachers' Association) , Mr Utpal Roy, said that recognition of many government aided schools in Kolkata would be cancelled because of the government’s education policy.

Addressing a convention on Central government’s education policy held in Malda yesterday evening Mr Roy said: “In Kolkata there are many reported schools but they do not have play grounds. Owing to the absence of a play ground a school’s recognition will be cancelled on the basis of lack of infrastructure if we follow the Central government’s education policy. Is it possible to provide a play ground for each school in Kolkata?”

The convention was arranged by the Left Front backed organizations comprising teaching and non teaching staff of college, secondary and primary schools in this district.

Mr Roy also said that to provide compulsory and free education to children between 6-14 years of age the Central government should allot 100 percent funds to the state rather than 55 per cent.

The ABTA general secretary criticized the policy of public private partnership (PPP) in the education system based on the policy of right to compulsory and free education.

“ The Union human resources development minister Mr Kapil Sibal , does not want to control capitation fees in private schools to promote PPP model and to commercialize the education system”, he added.

The West Bengal government has implemented many policies adopted by the Centre in advance to provide free and compulsory primary and secondary education to children.

The ABTA general secretary, Mr Utpal Roy, admitted that the Centre had planned to dissolve the concept of managing committee which controls schools in the state and teachers’ participation in the MC.

He also disclosed that except for West Bengal more than 95 percent schools in other states are run by the state government. The concept of the government aided schools in West Bengal is different from that in other states.  

“The state has requested the Centre to allot funds for government aided schools from the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhijan. We hope that funds will be allotted to the government aided schools in this state form RMSA”, he added. (END)