Time to push harder for total literacy

Though the Rs 9,824 crore budget allotted for School Education for 2010-11 is seen as a good move by many, the government’s delay in going ahead with giving posting orders to DSC-2008 qualified has led to some questions.

The delay in giving posting orders for the DSC-2008 aspirants led them to resort to agitations, and finally forcing them to knock at the doors of a Court.

The delay in implementing the GO is seen as the primary reason why the B Ed and D Ed candidates had knocked at the court doors.

The state government had taken up the issue of DSC-2008 in six years while during the previous regime this exercise was almost an annual feature, thereby not allowing any backlogs.

Secondary Education Minister Manikya Vara Prasad Rao had plainly stated that under the Right to Education Act, the teacher- student ratio would be 1:30 and that the students would not be allowed to suffer.

Lakhs of teachers are to be appointed now. With many teachers reaching superannuation, this has again created some vacancies. Then why was the delay? The government has failed to give any answer.

This lack of answer has led to the assumption that either the government was indifferent or just plain negligent.

According to the government, it is keen on achieving total literacy in 10 years. One of the stated aims, as part of its attempt to cut down on drop-outs among students is to continue with the Mid-Day Meal scheme up to 10th class.

Besides this, the government favours Model Schools for better Primary Education. Sarva Siksha Abhiyan is another scheme aimed at providing Elementary education for students in the 6-14 year age bracket. According to the budget speech, the government also aims to strengthen infrastructure in primary schools. 

For enrolment and to strengthen existing secondary schools, Rashtriya Madhyamika Siksha Abhiyan is also proposed during 2010-11 with Central assistance.

Sakshar Bharat Mission 2012 is another scheme designed to eradicate illiteracy among women.  

The message is clear from all these stated schemes. The government wants to give education a much needed push. An educated population would indeed see the country taking giant leaps forward in its quest for overall development.

For all the good intentions and purposes listed by the government, failure to take prompt and responsible decision, at the right time, would do more harm than good.

The nod for giving postings to the DSC-2008 qualifiers is a start. The government must build on this start if it wants to ensure that the Rs 9,824 crore budget does not go waste. This would also help the country in the longer run.

The ball is, was and will be in the government’s court. Any hesitation in continuing with the process set in motion by the recruitment orders would be harmful.