Education dept to rope in more supervisors at state-run schools

Kolkata: In a significant step to ensure smooth implementation of various schemes of the state government, particularly the mid day meal scheme in state-run primary schools, the state School Education department has decided to recruit more education supervisors. The School Education department has already recruited as many as 400 such supervisors in three phases this year under the directions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Thursday addressed a workshop to take stock of the work done by these supervisors at the school level and provide necessary instructions for further progress.

The workshop organised by the School Education department in collaboration with West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) witnessed the presence of these supervisors. "We will recruit more supervisors and take the number to 750 for better surveillance of various schemes, particularly the mid-day meal scheme in schools. There has been complaints regarding the quality of food provided in mid-day meals and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed us that there should be no irregularities associated with mid-day meals," Chatterjee said.It may be mentioned that mid-day meal in the state is provided to 1.20 crore school students on a daily basis.

WBBPE has been monitoring the mid-day meal schemes in state-run schools. However, due to lack of staff they have found it difficult to keep an eye on the mid-day meal distribution in the schools. Hence, the decision of recruiting more supervisors was taken.

"The supervisors send reports to WBBPE and steps are taken accordingly. From now on, they will also report to the nodal officer of the state Education department. This will enable us to keep track of mid-day meals and other issues," Chatterjee said.

In a word of advice to the education supervisors, Chatterjee urged them to work on finding reasons behind drop outs from certain schools.