Statement by Partha Chatterjee at 11:00 AM:
The incident at Calcutta University (CU) was uncalled for. I have spoken to all sides and heard their views. Having done that, the VC is now examining details of the incident.
Let me reiterate, the larger issue is about weeding out corruption in CU. Corruption and education can never go together.
My earnest appeal to ALL sides is to focus on education & look ahead.
A budget of Rs 2688.20 crore was passed in the West Bengal Assembly for the state’s Higher Education department today.
Moving the budget proposal, state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said in the last two years, 65 colleges from the state have got ‘A’ or ‘B’ gradation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which showed that quality of education in the state has increased.
To fill up vacant posts in different state-run and aided colleges, recommendation for appointment of more than 1700 teachers have been made, he said.
The minister, however, added that all the recruitments would be made in accordance with UGC norms and that quality would not be compromised.
Chatterjee criticised the opposition members saying that it was not seeing the positives just for the sake of politics.
“They are displaying a lack of positive and constructive attitude,” he said.
What the Trinamool Government understood pretty early is that one of the primary ways to improve the state of school education (in state government schools) is to majorly improve the intake of qualified teachers. This, of course, implies the fact that the expenditure also had to increase; and which the Government has done, proving its intent to produce better citizens from the State.
The Left Front Government left education in the doldrums
That the state of education during the Left Front rule had gone down, there is no doubt. Numbers prove it. In 1981, the rank of West Bengal, according to the state of education, was below 16 other States. In 2011, after 30 years, West Bengal came in after 19 other states. Hence, after 30 years, the State had gone down instead of improving.
Secondly, according to the 1981 census, the percentage of educated people in the State was 5% higher that of the all-India average. According to the 2001 census, this gap had narrowed down considerably, to 3%.
Thirdly, according to a 1993 report, the percentage of students who left school after primary school was 36%, compared to the all-India average of 35%; therefore, a negligible difference. After 12 years, in 2005, the percentage for West Bengal did come down to 24%, but the all-India average came down to a very encouraging 15%; therefore, the difference widened from a mere 1% to 9%. Many economically weaker states, including the so-called BIMARU states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, have overtaken West Bengal in this respect.
School infrastructure
Though it is not possible to turn around the deplorable situation that the State finds itself in so quickly, even in this short span of time, the Trinamool Government has managed to bring about a positive change in the situation.
Among its activities have been building new schools, adding classrooms to existing schools, recruiting a large number of teachers, building toilets, both for boys and girls, giving grants for setting up computer systems and improving libraries, etc.
The Left Front Government, during its last three years in power, from financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11, had an expenditure of Rs 2,503,53,00,000 on school education, or Rs 834 crore per year on an average; whereas the Trinamool Government, during its first three years, spent Rs 8,096,88,00,000, or Rs 2699 crore per year on an average, which is 223%, or 3.23 times, more.
Hence, naturally, the scenario of education in government schools has improved tremendously. During its last three years, the Left Front Government constructed only 184 primary schools whereas the Trinamool Government, during its first three years, constructed 362 primary schools.
The comparative data on school education is detailed below:
Other achievements
Human resource in education
In terms of human resource too, the Trinamool Government has achieved quite a lot during its short time in power. Among the achievements are the following:
Thus, there is no doubt that despite the financial constraints (huge inherited debt from the Left Front Government), during its first three years in power, the Trinamool Government, in the sector of school education, has achieved things which are comparable to those achieved in the almost last 10 years of the Left Front Government.
West Bengal Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Dr Partha Chatterjee today slammed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for his comments on the law and order situation in West Bengal.
Partha Chatterjee said, “Rajnath Singh Ji spoke like a party leader and not a Central Minister. Was he trying to please his party workers?” He also added, “Law and order situation in Bengal is far better than other states.”
The minister also took Rajnath Singh Ji to task for his comments on Teesta water sharing treaty, describing it as “uncalled for”. “He should not have spoken about Teesta water sharing treaty without consulting State government,” said Partha Chatterjee while addressing reporters at the State Assembly.
An education hub is coming up at Rajarhat New Town. At least 30 different educational institutes have been allotted land in the township, covering more than 150 acres, to set up their campuses in different parts of the township.
While Presidency University , St Xavier’s College and Rabindra Bharati University are developing their second campuses here, institutes like Aliah University and Techno India have already set up their campuses and started operations.
Officials said that talks are on with several other institutes and more land could be allotted for their campuses. Campuses of several government and private institutes like Netaji Subhas Open University , Ganguly Educational Society , Bhawanipor Gujrati Education Society, IILM Foundation, WBSEDCL Staff Training Centre, State Government Vocational Institute, State Social Welfare School and others are also coming up in the township.
Authorities have been allotting land -from two acres to 10 acres -to different institutes through e-tenders.
Besides, the authorities have also earmarked a 20-acre plot to set up a government medical college and hospital. Tenders will be floated again. Cities across the world like Boston and Cambridge revolve around a big education hub where worldclass universities along with schools and colleges are located.
Para teachers will soon get a salary hike along with a bunch of other facilities that will come their way soon, said Partha Chatterjee, Education Minister on Thursday.
The minister has said that previously various teachers’ organisation had placed several demands one of which was a hike in salary by 50 per cent.
The para teachers, so far, could not avail the facility of employees’ provident fund (EPF) but EPF facilities, as confirmed by the minister, would be given to them soon.
Partha Chatterjee also said that maternity leave of women para teachers would be increased to 180 days from 135 days.
With the enhancement of facilities and salary hike, however, comes expectation of better services from them. Criteria of eligibility would be changed with many changes like age bar and other degree related requirements coming in place.
Furthermore, from now on para teachers would get only one day to locate young students from the adjoining areas instead of two as before.
“With increased facilities, come better qualities of services. Society has an expectation from them and surely they are doing good job and they will continue to do so,” said the education minister.
