AP education scheme goes awry

The VEC experiment was hailed as a role model for the entire country. But it took off with officials not even bothering to formulate guidelines to select `para-teachers’ and pay their salaries.

As a result, the VECs, most of which were constituted on political lines, picked up local youth and others for teaching in government schools to supplement regular teachers.

The Chandrababu Naidu Government adopted the Andhra Pradesh School Education (People’s Participation) Act, 1988 in April andconducted elections to VECs to enable parents to improve conditions in schools, besides appointing “para-teachers” by raising funds within the village.

The Government framed rules in July, specifying the conditions for the formation of parent-teacher associations in each school with representation from pre-primary classes to Standard X. While the committee size depended on the school strength, membership was fixed at Re 1.

The World Bank, which provided assistance to the tune of Rs 200 crore for improving primary schools in 14 districts, complimented the government for the idea and recommended its extension to other State. Several states have even been sending their officials to AP to observe the experiment.

The student-teacher ratio in the State is 1:53 against the target 1:40, and is likely to increase on account of enrollment of dropouts, thanks to a massive drive launched last summer. To bridge the gap, VCEs were asked to appoint “para-teachers” on a monthly salary of Rs 1,000.

However, therewere no clear guidelines to VECs in appointing teachers, and charges of violation of norms, corruption and political interference flowed thick and fast. “In some places, VEC members did appoint teachers on political lines, discriminating against others,” said an official.

In some villages, VECs preferred retired teachers to young, qualified local candidates. “What is the point in hiring retired people while there are several eligible candidates?” asked Prabhakara Sastry of STEP, a voluntary organisation working in the field of education in Prakasam district.

Senior government officials too admitted they did not have “full information” on the appointment of `para-teachers’. “As soon as it came to our notice that there were irregularities in the appointments, we put the entire process on hold,” a senior official told The Indian Express

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School Education Commissioner T Vijayakumar said a new set of guidelines and rules were being framed for the VECs’ appointments. “Moreover, we have decidedto change the term from `para-teachers’ to `educational volunteers’,” he explained.

As per the rules, which will be announced in a couple days, the minimum educational qualification for a volunteer is Standard X, and candidates should belong to the village where the appointment is made. However, tribal areas are exempt from the provisions.

It has now been decided to stipulate that only those associated with the Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) or enrollment of dropouts, and those with some experience as `para-teachers’ before commencement of the Act would be given preference in appointment.

The School Education Department has also proposed that preference be given to those between 18 and 30 years of age, especially from among Dalits and Backward Classes, because most dropouts belong to these segments.

After drafting around 18,000 educational volunteers this year, the pupil-teacher ratio in AP is likely to go down to 1:47. For this, the Government yesterday sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore towards its 50 per centshare in paying volunteers’ salaries.