Punjab News Express
CHANDIGARH : The Punjab Education Minister, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema today took strong notice of the media report circulated yesterday about the dire straits of Government Primary School, Ballamgarh falling under Block Samana-3 of Patiala district. The minister instructed the department to probe the matter and submit report within one day. Pursuant to this, DPI (Elementary Education) Mrs. Pankaj Sharma today conducted a surprise check at the school as well as the village and submitted her report. During the checks, Block Primary Education Officer (B.P.E.O.) Sukhdev Singla was placed under suspension for mismanagement and pathetic conditions prevailing at the school whereas the District Education Officer (Elementary Education) was issued a warning. Not only this but D.E.O. was instructed to deploy permanent teacher at school.
Disclosing this, a spokesman of the Education Department said that D.P.I. Mrs. Pankaj Sharma conducted checking at the school at 11 AM today accompanied by D.E.O. (Elementary Education), Patiala. As per the record of the school, the student strength was 23 out of which 19 were present, 1 was on leave while 3 were absent. The school teacher Satgur Singh had passed away in March 2016 following which D.E.O. made temporary arrangements to keep the academics going through various teachers. Today, Gurnaib Singh ETT teacher Government Primary School, Bhedpuri was present on deputation. Besides this, an A.I.E. volunteer is performing her duties at the school from February 2014.
During checking, the record of school was also scrutinized according to which the uniforms and books were distributed to the school, Aadhar card of all the students were made. The bank accounts of 5 students were not opened. The mid day meal cook Mrs. Saroj Kaur said that she prepares food for 20-22 students daily.
The spokesman further said that as per the media report, there were 43 students in the school who were being taught by an 11 year old student of 5th standard. This was factually incorrect because according to admission register the school had 23 students with 4 in class-1st, 3 in class-2nd, 4 in class-3rd, 6 each in class-4th and 5th. The school has an arrangement of ETT teachers on temporary basis with one A.I.E. volunteer from February 2014. So, the media report is wrong in saying that school didn’t have even 1 teacher and it is also far from truth that village folk help in mid day meal whereas Mrs. Saroj Kaur is deployed as mid day meal cook who cooks food. She was also present today.