Reserve teachers to replace moms-to-be
11 July 2012 1:30 AM GMT
A number of teachers go on maternity leave every year, adversely affecting the proper functioning of elementary schools in the city. To tackle the problem, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation [NDMC] has taken an initiative to create a reserve pool of teachers to replace the teachers on leave.
The corporation has asked the education officers of all six zones of its area to compile a list of teachers required.
‘Teachers working in the elementary schools of the corporation generally take the maximum possible maternity leave of nine months, leaving students to their own fate. The reserve pool of contractual teachers would replace the would-be-mothers so that students are not affected,’ said Rekha Gupta, chairman of the Education Committee in NDMC.
At present, there are 8,217 permanent and 1,500 contractual teachers in 778 schools of NDMC. According to senior officials, over 70 per cent teachers in these schools are women. As per the government norms, women teachers are entitled to paid maternity leave for three months, but it can be extended to nine months.
The proposed reserve pool of teachers will also replace teachers going on long sick and accident leave. The reserve pool would be created at zone level and deployed in their respective zones only.
‘We have also directed the officials to deploy teachers from nearby schools, if any particular school is facing a shortage of teachers,’ informed Gupta. As per the rules of the corporation, there is one teacher for every 30 students enrolled. If the total strength of students in a school, however, goes beyond 200, a ratio of one teacher for 40 students is maintained. At present, there is a shortage of 470 teachers is NDMC schools and the vacancies are expected to be filled by August.
Besides leaves, teachers of the corporation are often engaged in census, pulse polio programme, surveys and various other programmes of the central and state government, making a reserve pool a necessity.
30 CORPORATION SCHOOLS TO BE UPGRADED
NDMC has decided to upgrade 30 schools of its area, to bring them at par with private English-medium schools in the cit. The pilot project will be launched shortly. At present, corporations’ elementary schools provide education in Hindi medium and English is taught as a subject. 'The students are not able to compete with their counterparts of private schools.
Keeping in mind the tough competition and increasing importance of English language, we have decided to upgrade 30 schools of NDMC area,' said Rekha Gupta, chairman of Education Committee of NDMC. The selected schools will also have computer labs, playground, conference hall, library and many other facilities being provided in private English medium schools. NDMC is also to tie up with an agency to provide library facility at a nominal cost. At present, the corporation manages 762 schools, 24 aided schools and six nursery schools in the six zones of North Delhi.
NCERT PLANS TO CATCH 'EM YOUNG
Alarmed by the growing number of road accidents and deaths, the ministry of road transport and highways is planning to propose a chapter on road safety norms in National Council of Education Research and Training [NCERT] syllabus for students of Class VIII-XII, so that youngsters can imbibe good driving culture.
Nitin R Gokarn, joint secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, who was one of the panelist at a discussion on corruption and road safety organised in FICCI on Tuesday said, ‘We are taking [road safety] as important and are in talks with NCERT to include chapters on it in their curriculum.’
He said, ‘They have interacted with the syllabus care committee to draw a draft plan so that traffic rules can be a part of the school textbooks prepared by the NCERT.’
According to government estimates, India accounts for about one lakh fifty thousands of the total accidents every year and introduction of such traffic guidelines will certainly help in dealing with traffic problems.
The panel was of the view that this will help in detail students about crossing the street roads correctly and safely. It will also explain about different traffic signs and usage of sub ways, foot over bridges and zebra crossings.’
‘Incidents of road accidents are on the rise and authorities are doing a fair job, but on other hand it has become mandatory to educate young generation about the traffic safety rules,’ added one of the speakers.
The panelists also emphasised on the contribution of the citizens in the issue. ‘Traffic is an important issue. Not only authorities but citizens’ contribution is required to make the roads safer for everyone. People must adhere to traffic norms and regulation,’ Gokarn said.
The corporation has asked the education officers of all six zones of its area to compile a list of teachers required.
‘Teachers working in the elementary schools of the corporation generally take the maximum possible maternity leave of nine months, leaving students to their own fate. The reserve pool of contractual teachers would replace the would-be-mothers so that students are not affected,’ said Rekha Gupta, chairman of the Education Committee in NDMC.
At present, there are 8,217 permanent and 1,500 contractual teachers in 778 schools of NDMC. According to senior officials, over 70 per cent teachers in these schools are women. As per the government norms, women teachers are entitled to paid maternity leave for three months, but it can be extended to nine months.
The proposed reserve pool of teachers will also replace teachers going on long sick and accident leave. The reserve pool would be created at zone level and deployed in their respective zones only.
‘We have also directed the officials to deploy teachers from nearby schools, if any particular school is facing a shortage of teachers,’ informed Gupta. As per the rules of the corporation, there is one teacher for every 30 students enrolled. If the total strength of students in a school, however, goes beyond 200, a ratio of one teacher for 40 students is maintained. At present, there is a shortage of 470 teachers is NDMC schools and the vacancies are expected to be filled by August.
Besides leaves, teachers of the corporation are often engaged in census, pulse polio programme, surveys and various other programmes of the central and state government, making a reserve pool a necessity.
30 CORPORATION SCHOOLS TO BE UPGRADED
NDMC has decided to upgrade 30 schools of its area, to bring them at par with private English-medium schools in the cit. The pilot project will be launched shortly. At present, corporations’ elementary schools provide education in Hindi medium and English is taught as a subject. 'The students are not able to compete with their counterparts of private schools.
Keeping in mind the tough competition and increasing importance of English language, we have decided to upgrade 30 schools of NDMC area,' said Rekha Gupta, chairman of Education Committee of NDMC. The selected schools will also have computer labs, playground, conference hall, library and many other facilities being provided in private English medium schools. NDMC is also to tie up with an agency to provide library facility at a nominal cost. At present, the corporation manages 762 schools, 24 aided schools and six nursery schools in the six zones of North Delhi.
NCERT PLANS TO CATCH 'EM YOUNG
Alarmed by the growing number of road accidents and deaths, the ministry of road transport and highways is planning to propose a chapter on road safety norms in National Council of Education Research and Training [NCERT] syllabus for students of Class VIII-XII, so that youngsters can imbibe good driving culture.
Nitin R Gokarn, joint secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, who was one of the panelist at a discussion on corruption and road safety organised in FICCI on Tuesday said, ‘We are taking [road safety] as important and are in talks with NCERT to include chapters on it in their curriculum.’
He said, ‘They have interacted with the syllabus care committee to draw a draft plan so that traffic rules can be a part of the school textbooks prepared by the NCERT.’
According to government estimates, India accounts for about one lakh fifty thousands of the total accidents every year and introduction of such traffic guidelines will certainly help in dealing with traffic problems.
The panel was of the view that this will help in detail students about crossing the street roads correctly and safely. It will also explain about different traffic signs and usage of sub ways, foot over bridges and zebra crossings.’
‘Incidents of road accidents are on the rise and authorities are doing a fair job, but on other hand it has become mandatory to educate young generation about the traffic safety rules,’ added one of the speakers.
The panelists also emphasised on the contribution of the citizens in the issue. ‘Traffic is an important issue. Not only authorities but citizens’ contribution is required to make the roads safer for everyone. People must adhere to traffic norms and regulation,’ Gokarn said.
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