Wednesday August 10, 2011 10:35:50 PM, IANS

Thiruvananthapuram: In a welcome move, Kerala has reduced the teacher-student ratio from 1:45 to 1:30 in all state owned and state supported schools.

This was done under the Comprehensive Reforms Package unveiled in the Kerala general education department.

In the lower primary schools, the teacher-student ratio would be 1:30 and in upper primary schools it would be 1:35.

Speaking to reporters here after the weekly cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said this is going to make a huge change in tackling the problems besetting the school education sector in the state.

"With reduction in the teacher-student ratio, the additional funds required would be met by funds that we will get from the centre through the Right to Education Act. With this the liability of the state would be just Rs.6.68 crore every year," he said.

"Around Rs.260 crore would be injected into the state education sector every year by the centre and would be used to create infrastructure and also to ensure that all teachers get their salary every month," added Chandy.

The state has 4,501 government and 7,278 aided schools and close to a lakh teachers.

Another major new initiative announced is that there will be no longer any headcount done of the number of students in the schools to determine if there are excess teachers.

"More than 4,500 teachers have lost their jobs because of this headcount in the past 15 years and all those who have lost their jobs would be immediately re-employed. Also, 13,503 teachers who have been working for many years without getting pay also would start getting their salary with this initiative," said Chandy.

It has also been decided that up to Class 5 each class will have only 30 students while in all other classes there would be 35.

The new package will be discussed with the managements of those who own schools in the aided education sector, said Chandy.

 

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

BJP, Congress delaying discussion on corruption: Left

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have joined hands to disrupt parliament in order to delay discussions on corruption  »

BJP demands Sikshit's resignation, Cong Modi's head; Parliament adjourned

Parliament adjourned for the day over CAG report

  Most Read

The fourth day of rioting, looting and arson saw the trouble that started from London and engulfed various cities of Britain, also reaching central Manchester and Salford regions. However,  »

The proposed national food security bill will ensure that every Indian has access to foodgrains at a reasonable price, says minister K.V. Thomas -- a claim rejected by activists who say the draft legislation is inadequate and lacks accountability. "When (the bill is) implemented, every   »

  News Pick

Ramadan, the blessed month, as the Muslims around the world would love to call it, is here once again. As the new moon pronounces the arrival of Ramadan  »

Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi's son Khamis Gaddafi, who was said to have been killed a few days ago, has appeared on Libyan state television, the Telegraph reported. The Libyan government has denied claims of the rebel    »

Curfew prevailed in parts of Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city Wednesday after a communal clash involving Kanwariya pilgrims left 13 people injured, including two cops, police said. Violence broke out in Dasarai locality  »

The Supreme Court's ruling allowing examinees to access their evaluated answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has brought cheer to students but some school and college principals  »

Picture of the Day

Muslims go to Makkah al Mukarrema in Saudi Arabia for Umrah entire year other than Haj times. However, during Ramadan, number of Umrah visitors increases manifold. According to a rough estimate, over 2.5 million Muslims come from across the world to Makkah al Mukarrema for Umrah during Ramadan.

(Photo: ummid.com)