Empowering Rajasthan through total literacy From Our Correspondent

EDUCATION TO LIBERATE, TO EARN
Empowering Rajasthan through total literacy
From Our Correspondent

Special endeavours have been made to promote higher, technical and medical education in the state. The positive results in the field of education will spontaneously be visible as a result of decisions taken to establish technical and medical universities in the state.

We must build such students who have luster on their faces, erudition of mind, strength in their body, strong will power, self reliance in life and imprinted on their heart should be the likes of Shiva, Pratap, Dhruva and Prahlad and at the same time a look at their faces must twang the memories of great personalities.?

Taking these words of Swami Vivekananda as his cherished ideals, the Education Minister of Rajasthan Shri Ghanshyam Tiwari took the oath of office in Sanskrit on December 8, 2003 with the determination of taking Rajasthan to the forefront of education in the entire country. On assuming office, he found that a large number of posts of teachers were vacant in schools resulting in a total disruption of teaching activities. Medical and technical education was grossly ignored for lack of proper attention.

It is through Shri Tiwari'sceaseless efforts that 54,284 posts of teachers were filled through the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC). He took up the cudgel to open medical and technical universities in Rajasthan. As a result of these initiatives the state has emerged number one in SSA all over the country. How did it all come about? Let'sknow.

HISTORY CREATED THROUGH ACHIEVEMENTS
Special efforts have been made to establish Rajasthan as the leading State with the determination to expand education, based on Indian culture and high values. As a result of these endeavours, Rajasthan has come to be reckoned as one of the leading states in the field of education. The state has earned special recognition in the field of educational novelties, quality, improvement in higher education, promotion of Sanskrit language along with various decisions taken to encourage education among girls.

The state has achieved distinct identity for having taken measures such as teaching of English from class I, commencement of academic session from Varsh Pratipada (the first day of the year according to Vikram Samvat), teaching of Sanskrit through Sanskrit medium, banning of mobile phones in schools, establishment of research centers for the development of vedic science, Indology and Indian culture in the Rajasthan Sanskrit University. A provision has been made to provide separate allocation of budget for Sanskrit education.

Efficacious leadership and effective supervision of Shri Tiwari, coupled with a clear thinking of development has made the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) the biggest examination conducting body for the first time in the country. The RBSE has declared its examination results earlier than the CBSE.

TOWARDS THE GOAL
The last 16 months have been extremely significant from the point of universalisation of elementary, secondary and Sanskrit education in the state. On the one hand, the historic appointments of 54,284 teachers have paved the way for employment in the government sector, while on the other, decision has been taken to teach Sanskrit through Sanskrit medium, thus, contributing to the inculcation of ideal values at all levels. Besides it, Rajasthan has emerged from 23rd to 1st rank at all-India level in the implementation of SSA. For the first time free textbooks amounting to Rs 60 crore have been distributed to the children of all sections of society. Development of the Sanskrit university has been set into motion.

Special efforts have been made to establish Rajasthan as the leading state with the determination to expand education, based on Indian culture and high values. As a result of these endeavours, Rajasthan has come to be reckoned as one of the leading states in the field of education.

Appointments

Free School univfor being distributed to a girl student

Newly recruited teachers have been posted in rural areas for five years. Likewise, those promoted have also been posted in rural areas. Facilities such as pension, medical policy and housing loan from banks have been provided for the newly recruited teachers. Special provision of 10 per cent in the appointments of widows / divorcees. Advertisement for 3,773 posts of these categories has been released on April 8, 2005.

About 4,131 Rajiv Gandhi Pathshalas have been converted into regular government primary schools, 3,133 new primary schools opened, 3,589 primary schools upgraded to upper primary, 401 upper primary schools upgraded to secondary and 207 secondary schools upgraded to senior secondary.

Decision has been taken to convert 10 per cent schools into Sanskrit Vidhyalayas as part of converting Rajiv Gandhi Primary Schools into regular government schools. Nearly 2000 Rajiv Gandhi Pathshalas are to be converted into primary schools in the year 2005-06. One Kasturba Gandhi Residential School is to be opened in every district to promote girl education in the state.

Free textbooks to every child from class I to XII (books amounting Rs 60 crore have been distributed to more than 1 crore 20 lakh children. This year also, free textbooks are to be distributed.

Integrated education for disabled children and training to such teachers through NGOs have been imparted. Availability of drinking water facilities, additional classrooms and construction of toilets in every school (additional class-rooms in 4,783 schools, construction of school building in 889 schools, arrangement of hand pumps in 2,441 Schools and, toilets constructed in 5,949 schools).

Rupees six crore have been sanctioned for infrastructure development in Sanskrit University.

Rajasthan Sanskrit University Act has been amended to enable the recruitment of regular employees. The draft of transfer policy for teachers was released on September 5, 2004.

Curriculum at par with NCERT and CBSE has been enforced.

Free education for girls up to XII class to promote woman education. About Rs. 263.09 lakh have been provided to para teachers working in madrasas and Rs five lakh provided for promotion of education in madrasas. 4,425 Mahatma Gandhi libraries have been opened.

Unprecedented increase in the plan budget of various departments of education. Budgetary allocation for elementary education has been increased to 77 per cent and for secondary education it has been increased to 412 per cent. Similarly, budgetary allocation for literacy and continuous education has been increased to 350 per cent; while for Sanskrit University it has been raised to 174 per cent and for the various academies it has been increased to 84 per cent.

100 per cent utilisation of the amount received from Centre for SSA. The Department of Education proposes to submit annual plan for 2005-06 to the tune of Rs 810 crore.

Higher, Technical and Medical Education
In conformity with the global need of higher education, special endeavors have been made to strengthen the universities. New employment-oriented courses have been introduced and at the same time pending matters relating to promotions of university teachers and other employees have been disposed of. Some of the important steps taken for the development of higher education are:-

The procedure of the affiliation/recognition of the private colleges has been simplified. NOCs have been issued to 228 new colleges. Besides this, government colleges have been opened in Jhunjhunu, Thanagaji in Alwar district and Kherwada in Udaipur district. To establish self-financed universities in the state, ?Rajasthan Self-Financed University Ordinance 2004? was enacted. The private investment of Rs. 200 crore is estimated. The grant in aid of the aided institutions has been increased to about Rs five crore. Ordinance to establish private universities was promulgated. Investment of Rs 200 crore is estimated in higher education

Necessary initiatives have been taken at the State government level to accord the status of Central University to the Rajasthan University. Rajasthan University has been accorded the status of

A+ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Government colleges have applied for grant amounting to Rs 14.72 crore for the 10th Five-Year Plan under various grant schemes of the University Grant Commission (UGC). Grant of Rs 8.05 crore has been released.

Technical Education

Girl student partaking of a mid-day meal in a school

In technical education along with a decision to establish a technical university, attention has also been paid to employment-based activities. Some of the special endeavours in this respect are:-

Decision was taken to establish separate technical university for the first time in the state for the development and better management of technical education in the state. In 2004-05, five new private engineering colleges have been opened. This has increased the admission capacity up to 3,330 seats.

Temporary faculty members in almost all the technical colleges were given teaching assignment. Keeping this in view it was for the first time that 63 lecturers were posted by the state. It is for the first time in the annals of the state that appointments in technical education were given on such a large scale.

Without any extra financial burden, additional 200 seats in six Government polytechnic colleges have been created, thereby substantially increasing their admission capacity. About, 3,460 admission seats have been added to existing technical education institutes.

The last 16 months have been extremely significant from the point of universalisation of elementary, secondary and Sanskrit education in the state. On the one hand, the historic appointments of 54,284 teachers have paved the way for employment in the government sector, while on the other, decision has been taken to teach Sanskrit through Sanskrit medium, thus, contributing to the inculcation of ideal values of high Indian life at all levels.

In addition to this, about 480 additional seats in medical, technical and B.Pharmacy and 1,110 additional seats in MBA have been created. The total number of additional seats created comes to 7,220, which is the highest achievement made in a given year so far. The total number of admission capacity, which was 30,546 in December 2003 now stands at 37,769. Thus a record increase of 24 per cent has been registered in admission capacity of technical courses.

Vasundhara Raje and Ghnashyam Tiwari performing yoga in Jaipur

The setting up of technical education institutes in private sector is likely to fetch investment to the tune of Rs 160 crore. At the same time about 2,000 persons will get direct employment while 6,000 persons will get indirect employment opportunities.

A provision of Rs 10 crore has been made for the construction of new building for engineering college, 50 new ITI units are to be established with private participation. This will facilitate 800 more admissions in ITIs.

New vocational courses viz. computer operator and programming assistant at ITI Jhalawar have been started. Similarly, a new vocational course viz. IT & ESM has been started in ITI at Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and women ITI at Jaipur. A provision of Rs 17.70 lakh and 11.30 lakh has been made for these vocational courses respectively. II shift have been started in five ITIs. Decentralisation of powers has been introduced in the engineering colleges receiving grant in aid from the State Government. A sanction of Rs. 51 lakh has been accorded to develop three polytechnic institutes into the centers of excellence. Provision of Rs. 51 lakh has been made to develop internet facility in all polytechnic institutions. A private engineering college has been established in Kotputli thereby increasing 240 additional seats. With the admission capacity of 60 students, MCA course has been started in Alwar.

Utilising the basic facilities in the ITIs under Industrial & Institutional Co-Operative Scheme, additional units are in operation through private participation. Sanction will be accorded to 11 proposals that will make 21 new units operational. NOCs were issued (by the State government) to establish 19 new ITIs for the session 2004-05. Because of this, the admission capacity will increase to 1,240 students per year. At the same time, 53 new units have been sanctioned in the existing ITIs by which the admission capacity may increase up to 1,060 students. Two MBA institutes have been started each in Alwar and Chittorgarh. Admission capacity of each institute is 60 students per year. Permission has been granted to introduce six para medical courses proposed by AICTE from the session 2005-06.

Medical education has received special attention for the first time in the state. The development of medical education is being brought under the umbrella of higher education instead of medical department. The Rs 100 crore scheme, Kaya Kalp Yojana has been undertaken to metamorphose SMS Hospital at Jaipur (the biggest hospital in the state) as part of the medical education development. Besides this, development schemes have been made for the hospitals located at all the divisional headquarters.

Mid-day meal being served to student by Vasundhara Raje

It is for the first time that a decision to establish a Medical University in the state has been taken. Foundation stone was laid on August 12, 2004.

Tele medicine project has been prepared under SMS Hospital College Jaipur. NOC was issued to establish two dental colleges in private sector. Result-oriented monitoring system for hospitals and medical colleges has been started. Policy regarding private participation for the establishment of machines and instruments for expensive medical investigations has been introduced. In this regard, orders have been issued to establish MRI and CT Scan machines in SMS Hospital. Establishment of Path Lab in the medical hospital at Ajmer, Bikaner and Jaipur and also, Linear Activator for cancer patients in Bikaner.

Interim fee structure determined for the admission in private medical / dental colleges. Enhancement of qualifications of MBBS doctors and, strict compliance of the directions of medical council of India for internship have been introduced. For the first time PG courses have been prepared and enforced. Endeavours are seriously being made to fill up the vacant posts of medical teachers. Approval has been granted to establish children'ssurgical hospital in medical college Udaipur at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore and ICU at Ajmer.

A very important decision has been taken to abolish PTET. Admission to B.Ed. colleges will be on merit basis. Open schools have been set up for the first time in the state. Registration of students has been started. The target of registering 6,000 students at secondary level and 4,000 at senior secondary level has been fixed. Initiative has been taken to convert 191 Janshalas into regular primary schools. About 45 technical institutes have been issued NOCs. For this the investment to the tune of Rs 125 crore is estimated.