Planning
Department says School Education Department does not have powers to approve the
new scheme
A
scheme to set up mini science centres in aided schools across the state from
this financial year has been scrapped because the Planning Department says that
the School Education Department does not have legal powers to approve such an
idea.
The School Education Department wanted
legislators to contribute around Rs 1.85 lakh each from their local area fund
for the centres. Senior minister Vinod Tawde-led School Education Department
had issued a government resolution (GR) for setting up mini science centres at
the cost of Rs 1.85 lakh each on May 18 this year.
Selected schools run by local
self-governments and aided private bodies were to get these centres. Tawde’s
department scrapped the decision through a new GR on August 14.
The old GR had specified that each centre
would require funding to the tune of Rs 1.85 lakh, including one-time amount of
Rs 1 lakh for scientific models in subjects like astronomy, physics, biology,
chemistry and mathematics, Rs 25,000 for training science teachers
(instructors), and recurring cost of Rs 25,000 each for maintenance and
supervision of the centres.
The Maharashtra State Council of Educational
Research and Training was put in charge of implementing the scheme. However,
when this proposal reached the Planning Department, headed by Sudhir
Mungantiwar, it opined that the subject came under its purview as per the
guidelines issued on September 13, 2011.
Highly placed officials in Mantralaya said
that, at the very least, the scheme will be delayed or may not take off this
year in view of technical issues. They also said that some legislators were
also opposed to the idea.
“A decision to include this work and approve
grant for the same is expected to be issued by the Planning Department. It will
be appropriate for the School Education Department to carry forward the scheme
after such a decision is approved,” the Planning Department said while stalling
the scheme on technical grounds.
The School Education Department issued a GR
on August 14 in which it has explained to the authorities concerned the issues
raised by the Planning Department. “In view of this (the suggestion and
objection), it is decided that only a decision about the policy be sent to
Planning Department and scrap the earlier decision (in which expenditure
details were incorporated),” said the GR signed by under-secretary R V
Phanasekar, who had also issued the earlier GR. Both ministers were not
available for comment. The officials concerned refused to comment, saying that
the GRs issued were self-explanatory.
What are mini science centres?
In May this year, school education minister
Vinod Tawde conceptualised the scheme to make students understand complex
subjects like science easily so that they are encouraged to take it up as a
career option.
Selected schools were to have a 500-sq ft
room and appoint one instructor, who could either be a lab assistant or a
science teacher. Schools complying with RTE norms were eligible for the scheme.
Models in subjects like astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics
were to be in place.
Source
| Mid Day | 18 August 2015
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