All untrained teachers will be trained by 2015
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 23 2014 :
Stressing on the need to develop the education system of the State, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has said that all untrained teachers of Government schools would be trained by 2015 as per the mandatory guidelines of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
He was speaking as Chief Guest of the inaugural function of a training programme for untrained elementary teachers jointly organized by Directorate of Education (S), SCERT, Tribal Affairs & Hills and Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan (SSA), State Mission Authority at the MFDC Auditorium, Palace Compound here today.
Ibobi further said that drastic changes could be seen in the education system of the State with the enactment of the Right to Education Act.
The training of untrained teachers has been made compulsory under the guideline of RTE Act.
There are more than 7000 untrained elementary teachers in the State, he noted.
Chief Minister maintained that the untrained teachers would undergo a two-year-diploma course under the open distance learning programme of IGNOU.
The open distance learning programme has been chosen specifically to avoid shortage of teachers in the Government schools.
The teachers have to put in efforts in order to pass the course.
The mandatory rule for recruitment of only trained teachers under the RTE Act would be put into effect soon.
The State Government would recruit only the trained teachers under the guidelines of NCERT in the future.
The Government teachers should also strive to enhance their performance in comparison to private school teachers.
The private schools have so far outperformed the Government schools, Ibobi averred.
He also announced that the State Government would take up various other programmes and policies to enhance the education system of the State at all levels.
Education Minister M Okendro, who was also present on the occasion, said that 7162 untrained Government teachers would be trained under the distance learning programme of IGNOU.
3000 teachers have been enrolled for the first phase.
The Centre would bear the training expenses of about Rs.7 crore.
Around Rs.3 crore has already been sanctioned for the first phase of teachers' training, he noted.
He further stated that the untrained teachers would not be able to work even in private schools in the days to come.
The Government would soon begin to monitor the private schools in the State, Okendro added.
The inaugural function was also attended by Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board Dr Ng Bijoy, Parliamentary Secretary Vungzagin Valte and MLA D Korungthang.