GTA takes up edu issues with state officials

SNS, 20 September 2018, Darjeeling: Chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Board of Administrators., Binoy Tamang today said that students should be given whatever benefits the Centre and the state governments have given to educational institutions.

He was speaking after a meeting with state Higher Education Commissioner Saumitra Mohan at Lalkothi here,where he placed different pending demands of the  Hills.

"There are many things that are yet to be done in the GTA area like installation of CCTV cameras in schools under the central fund. A committee should be formed in schools to look into all this. Some schools across West Bengal have already started this, but in the GTA area, no such thing has happened yet"' Mr. Tamang said.

"Apart from that, there is also a central government programme of Safety and Security Measures scheme in which the District Inspector has to approve a committee which has to see if the children are getting proper midday meal, along with the health of a child. This has also not been done in the GTA area even though the notification for this came tour years back," he said, adding that a fire safety system should also be there in schools.

Mr Tamang further said that they raised several pending issues of the GTA in the meeting. 

"We raised different demands with the various departments of the state government to which some work has been done, while some are pending and the state Higher Education Commissioner was here to understand all that," Mr Tamang said.

Other issues, according in the GTA chairman, include verified teachers whose list has already been set after verification, voluntary teachers in the new set up of High schools, 121 voluntary teachers, recognition of 14 High Schools, filling up of vacancies in primary schools which was 652 and would reach 1182 after more teachers retire by the first half of next year.

Also discussed were the issues like the 13 education circles having only three SI, which should be increased to 13. Vacancies to be filled for Group C and D staff in SI, Dl and schools, additional class rooms along with recognition of the Gandhi Ashram School in Kalimpong and the Mahatma Gandhi High School in Darjeeling.

On the other hand Mr Mohan said his department officials are visiting different districts and holding meetings with the Al, DI and SI to see if the schools are running well and if the midday meal is being given properly, or if teachers are attending schools and whether inspections are taking place. 

"We are covering these small but essential things and discussing and also trying to find out issues related to school infrastructure," Mr Mohan said.