The Indian Express               05.07.2013

PMC’s autonomous education board dissolved

"The government decision was awaited. Now, the existing 15-member education board stands dissolved and members should vacate their office. Now, the corporators should decide on either appointing a separate committee or entrusting the responsibility to women and child welfare committee," said municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak.

The PMC education board was formed in 1950 and has over 1 lakh students in 319 civic schools governed by it. Controversy has dogged the board continuously over alleged corruption in purchase of school uniform and books. It also faced criticism over poor quality of education in civic schools.

As per the ordinance to repeal the existing Act, the decision to dissolve the board has been taken to ensure uniformity in the primary education system and strict implementation of the provisions under the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009.

All properties of the board, movable and immovable, shall be deemed to be transferred to local authority. Similarly, all debts, liabilities and obligations incurred by the school education board will be discharged by the local civic authority. All employees serving under the education board would be transferred to the local authority and salaries and existing terms and conditions of service would continue until duly modified by local authority.

The set up of the officers conferred with duties under the repealed Act would continue unless altered by the state government. The local authority concerned would prepare the budget for the schools run by it in accordance with the provisions of the law applicable. The powers on superintendence, inspection and control in respect of the schools run by the municipal corporation shall be with the municipal commissioner concerned. The establishment of schools, syllabus, examination, administration and all related matter would be subject to provision of the Right to Education Act.