Ferreira raises myriad of issues on education dept in House
Aldona: Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira spoke on a myriad of issue concerning the education department due during the discussion on grants on Thursday.
He said that at the foundation stage in the National Education Policy (NEP) requires teachers to undergo training for Anganwadi, pre-schools and balwatikas, and classes 1 and 2, and pointed out that anganwadi teachers draw meagre salaries and cannot afford digital phones for this training.
Regarding secondary stage education, he said, “How are you going to manage these school complex clusters. My focus is on the management of schools in these clusters. The individuality of each school will get lost. The government will face litigations relating to the rights of the minorities guaranteed under the constitution because the moment you are taking over control of these institutions it will create conflict,” he said.
He also said that the department is “making a mistake on bringing National Credit Framework (NCrF) into the state education system”.
NCrF, which was introduced in 2022, applies to CBSE schools, while the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education came in 2023, he said.
“The department should have a relook at this as it will create a mess,” he said.
On the hours of instruction, Ferreira said that NEP speaks of reduction of load.
“NEP speaks of 29 hours per week, but what is happening is our institutions are given 180 days of instruction time, and IN this they have 29 hours of instruction, which is 986 hours. Under school education rules, it speaks of 5 and a half hours everyday which is 21 hours and schools made to work 33 hours. We need to reduce it from 33 to 29 to bring it with accord with NEP. The government is going against NEP on this,” he said.
The MLA also said that the 10 bagless days spoken in NCF is not possible under the present timetable.
On the vocational stream, he said that these courses will end under NEP structure. “What is the fate of students who want to take this and the fate of vocational teachers,” he said.
Samagra Shiksha teachers earning Rs 25,000 on contract basis for more than 8 years with no sick leave. “Appoint them on permament status,” he said.
Ferreira opposed the functioning of “integrated coaching classes” which is not allowed under NEP.
“This is a back door entry for these coaching classes which function at one place and operate at another place,” he said.
More than 400 vacancies in the education department are lapsing for the past 8 years, Ferreira said.
“How can contract staff and trainees under skilled development handle complex proposals under education acts and rules and other circulars,” he questioned.
“We need permanent teachers for special children. The TET qualifying exam to hire teachers has not been held for the past 2 years. We need counsellors for students, while PhD guides are not available,” he also said.
Pointing to a spelling gaffe on a poster pasted on the toilet door in the new education department building which says “flash before and after using”, instead of “flush”, Ferreira urged the officials not to make such errors.
Loading ...
