PPP in government schools: Panel to study suggestions

The implementation of the of public-private partnership policy in school education has been suspended for now. A committee has been formed which will study the recommendations, objections from various stakeholders.  Till now the implementation of this policy has been suspended by an order on February 7. This was informed by school education minister Vasudev Devnani during the question hour on Friday in the assembly.

He also informed that no school till now has been given to any private partner till now. Devnani categorically mentioned that the land of the schools belongs to the government and will remain of government and said that there was a provision of operative autonomy in the policy.

“Sarkari Zameen thee, Sarkari range”, he mentioned in the house. While giving the reply, he blamed Congress government for not doing much in the education sector and informed that government is committed to quality education. Devnani mentioned that in RMSA and secondary education 288 crores were spent during the tenure of Congress government but in BJP government’s 4 years till now more than Rs 1600 crore had been spent and if the infrastructure is also added to this, the amount becomes Rs 2,898 crores.

He informed that 300 schools were selected on experiment basis. For this census of 2011 was taken into consideration apart from other factors for selecting the schools to ensure availability of children as this was necessary and land.

Of these selected 235 schools, there were less than 400 students.  There were 258 schools, there were less number of rooms than needed for purpose of teaching. Devnani further informed that he has received 165 memorandums, 650 postcards in this regards for suggestions and feedback in this matter. He was replying to the question asked by Congress MLA from Kolayat, Bhanwar Singh.