'Change in teaching pattern needed to improve educational standards'

Kolkata: State Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Saturday expressed his doubts over the seriousness of the teachers in imparting education to the students in government schools.

"The state government has been spending Rs 17,000 crore to pay salaries of teachers and non-teaching staff in the schools. I would like to ask them humbly if they are able to match-up to that standard and impart education to the students," Chatterjee said at the inauguration ceremony of a smart classroom at Hindu School that celebrated its 201st Foundation Day on Saturday.

The Education minister opined that with the change in syllabus there should be a change in the teaching pattern in schools. "There should be a change in the pattern of teaching otherwise the educational standards in the schools will not improve," he said.

Chatterjee also regretted the fact that Hindu School students in recent times have been unable to make into the merit list of Madhyamik and Higher Secondary Examinations. "The Hindu School is doing well in terms of overall performance but we have to delve deep why it is not able to make it into the merit list," he said adding that three decades ago, Hindu had always featured in the merit list. Chatterjee lamented the fact that moral values among students are degrading and addressing a huge gathering of students, said: "You should be a good and responsible human being besides being a good student as this is the real essence of education." Responding to a plea from the headmaster of the school Tushar Kanti Samanta for creating facilities of spoken English in the school, Chatterjee reiterated that the government will not encourage English at the cost of the mother language Bengali.

"If you feel that you want to start English medium, you can give us a concrete proposal and the government can provide the facilities accordingly on a trial basis," he said. He also assured that he would speak to the Chief Minister regarding the demand of land for a second campus of Hindu School.