The Punjab government has enrolled 1.60 lakh students in the inaugural session of pre-primary sections in the schools run by it. While disclosing this on Tuesday, the Punjab Education Minister, Aruna Chaudhary said that the start of pre-primary classes was one of the most important initiatives by her government on 14 November, 2017.
The minister also listed out some other major initiatives taken by the state government in past one year such as a separate cadre of education administrators and teachers in the border districts.
The minister said that the cadre has been created through the revised service rules which have been approved by Council of ministers. As per the move, there will be six posts each of District Education Officers (DEOs) in elementary education and secondary education in the border districts.
The minister divulged that the Padho Punjab-Padhao Punjab programme aimed at the enhancement of learning outcomes of students at pre primary, primary and middle levels was started in August, 2017 and to ensure its success training of teachers was carried out. The Baseline and Mid-term evaluations have revealed that Learning levels of Primary children have enhanced by around 40 per cent in the subjects of Maths, Punjabi and English.
The minister disclosed that 1,645 teachers have been recruited in the Art and Craft, Elementary Teacher Training and Master Cadre apart from which the process to recruit additional 3,582 Masters cadre teachers would be completed shortly. The minister also said that the services of 1,800 teachers have been regularised and compassionate appointments have been given to 174 people.
Adding more, the minister said that to end the stagnation in promotions, eight teachers from Principal Cadre to Deputy Directors, 551 from Promotions to Principal Cadre, 23 from Masters to Head Master Cadre have been promoted.