Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) as informed that 403 government schools are functioning with single teacher while 48 schools are having teachers more than the required strength.
“As per item no.1 of Schedule I of RTE Act 2009, there should be at least two teachers in a primary school having classes from first to fifth. Audit observed that out of 742 Government Primary Schools in Goa, 403 schools are functioning with single teacher while 48 schools are having teachers more than the required strength,” the CAG report states
It further said that the Directorate of Education (DoE) in September 2020 said that one teacher was posted in a Government Primary School if enrolment in the school was less than 25 as per order issued by the Department in 2009 and additional teachers were posted in the school where enrolment was more than 25.
“Reply of Department is not tenable since as per Schedule I of RTE Act, there should be minimum two teachers in a school having enrolment up to 60 children. The order issued by the Department prior to implementation of RTE Act has not been withdrawn,” the CAG report states
The CAG mentions that the department stated (July 2021) that the additional requirements of teachers to maintain the specified Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) would be submitted to the Government for approval.
“Thus, Department of Education could not ensure rational deployment of teachers in schools as per prescribed PTR, thereby depriving children enrolled in these schools of quality education as envisaged under RTE Act 2009,” it said
CAG recomeded the Government may ensure rational deployment of teachers as per RTE norms and also ensure that teachers with minimum qualifications as prescribed by NCTE are recruited.
“As per Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Framework, the role of a teacher is very important for bringing about changes in society. Teachers need to be sensitised towards the needs of SC and ST students from the pre-service training period as well as in the in-service training to deal with the specific problems of inclusion at the block level,” the CAG states
The report informed that while the GSS achieved the targets fixed for in-service training to teachers during 2015-16, there were shortfalls ranging from 10 to 44 per cent in achieving the same during 2016-20. SPD Samagra Shiksha stated (February 2021) that due to retirement, transfer and leave of teachers, targets for training could not be achieved during 2016-17 to 2019-20.
“The fact remained that the GSS could not ensure training to all the teachers, which may adversely impact the quality of education being imparted in the schools,”it said
