The Times of India  10.11.2010

NEW DELHI: To ensure better implementation of the Right to Education Act, the MCD plans to extend its primary schools to middle school level and make them co-educational.

According to chairman of MCD education committee, Mahinder Nagpal, a proposal has been forwarded to the government for approval. "The plan proposes improving the standard of education, extension of education from primary to middle (level), making arrangements for providing education to mentally and physically-challenged children, doing away with double shift system and making all schools co-educational,'' said Nagpal.

Nagpal said under the new scheme, 40 new additional school buildings complete with library, computer lab and improved furniture would be constructed and provisions would be made for drinking water. To implement the plan, the MCD has asked for additional funds to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore. "The biometric system of attendance will be introduced in MCD schools to ensure presence of teachers. Year-wise career record of schoolchildren will also be maintained,'' Nagpal said. He said implementation of the plan will start as soon as the approval and funds from Delhi government are received.

To meet the current shortage of teachers, the MCD will ask the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board to appoint approximately 10,000 teachers primary and nursery level, as well as specially-trained educators for mentally and physically-challenged children. "This will bring down the shortage of teachers to 10%,'' said Nagpal.