Sibal relaxes teacher norm

Tathya.in, Nov 1, 2010
Naveen Patnaik asked for relaxation of maximum qualification norm for teachers to recruit them at a large scale for implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RCFCE) Act 2009 in Odisha.

Chief Minister informed Kapil Sibal, Union Minister HRD that the state needs to recruit over 25000 teachers to meet the requirement of RCFCE Act.
He stated that it was difficult to source such a large number of eligible applicants and requested for relaxation of the minimum qualification norms consistent with Section 23(2) of the RCFCE Act.
Union Minister expressed his ‘in-principle’ approval for relaxation of minimum qualifications for teachers as per Section 23(2) of the RCFCE Act.

Mr.Patnaik said that the ongoing Distance Education Programme being conducted by the State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) also required to be extended up to 2014-15, to prevent dislocation of the teachers from the schools.
Chief Minister requested Mr.Sibal for sanctioning 37, 839 additional class rooms, to comply to RCFCE Act.

In addition, he requested that the proposals of the State for setting up of Model Schools & Girls’ Hostels in 173 Educationally Backward Blocks and 100 new Vocational Colleges including strengthening of 231 existing Vocational Colleges may be sanctioned early.

He added that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) should favorably consider the recommendation of the Executive Committee of Central University, Koraput for setting up a Medical College.

Chief Minister requested that the Ministry of Human Resource Development may also sanction and release 1/3rd of their share towards capital cost for enabling the State to establish Model Degree Colleges in 18 Low Gross Enrolment Ratio Districts.

On continuance of Distance Education Programme up to 2014-15, he expressed that the proposal will be approved early after satisfying the quality parameters of the on-going training programme.

For additional class rooms, Minister expressed his support but stated that the approved scheme permitted only 33% of resources for civil works and that the next Project Approval Board meeting will be convened early to consider the proposal of the State.

Union Minister informed that an amount of Rs.236.10 crores had already been approved under SSA – RTE component for the current year and assured that adequate resources will be provided to the State in future.

On sanction of Model Schools in Educationally Backward Blocks, he stated that the MHRD is presently facing acute resource crunch and that Odisha’s proposals shall be approved on priority, whenever resources become available.

For Girls’ Hostels, Union Minister informed that they are in process of revising the norms of unit cost and that it would be beneficial to the State if proposals are sanctioned after revision of cost norms.

Union Minister informed that for strengthening vocational education, the Ministry of Human Resource Development is in the process of seeking approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).

For availing central assistance towards 1/3rd share for capital cost for setting up Degree colleges in 18 Low Gross Enrolment Ratio Districts, the Union Minister informed that the State should sign the required Memorandum of Understanding at the earliest, upon which MHRD would sanction and release the required central share.

He, however, requested that owing to acute resource crunch, it may not be possible at least for the present to sanction a Medical College for Central University, Koraput or for any other Central University across the country.