PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Chief secretary Anand Bardhan emphasised that officials must ensure the examination pattern and other provisions are aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP). He said this while chairing a review meeting with the officials of the Education department on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Bardhan sought detailed information about the department’s activities. He directed officials to act for the expansion of the Bharat Darshan Yojana under secondary education, stating that at least 1,000 children should participate in the Bharat Darshan Yatra this year, with a goal of increasing that number to 5,000 next year. This initiative is crucial for the exploration and skill development of children. Additionally, he instructed that the duration of the Bharat Darshan Yatra be extended to seven days, and that tours of India’s prestigious science and technical institutions, as well as military establishments, should be organised.
The CS further directed the officials to expedite the construction of the proposed 559 cluster schools. He tasked officials with preparing and submitting detailed project reports for all identified cluster school buildings within the next month. During the meeting, he instructed the heads of the departments of the implementing agencies, chosen by the Education department, to also prepare the DPRs within this timeframe. Additionally, he called for DPRs related to the construction of smart classrooms and computer labs to be completed within a month. To facilitate these construction efforts, he advised departmental directors to visit districts for better coordination with district magistrates and implementing agencies. While in the districts, he instructed them to organise meetings of the district-level committees, chaired by the DM, to discuss vehicle fare issues for cluster schools and to resolve these matters promptly.
Further, Bardhan directed the preparation of DPRs for all proposed hostel facilities for schools within a month. He also called for the establishment of a dedicated budget line for computer labs in smart classes. To prevent delays in construction, he stressed the importance of setting time limits for each task and reviewing progress regularly at the levels of secretary, additional secretary and director general. He also highlighted the need to increase the number of residential schools within the state, stating that a vehicle should be made available at these schools to address medical emergencies and other urgent situations effectively.
