CPI blames CPM for 'education rot' in state

KOLKATA: It''s now the turn of the CPI to focus on the 26-year-old education sector mistakes of a government of which it has been a part for over two decades.
Tearing into an education policy that is controlled solely by Alimuddin Street, a note prepared by Bhupesh Bhavan (CPI HQ) top brass has blamed the CPM -without naming it - for the total rot.
The big partner (read CPM) has now developed the habit of taking unilateral decisions on vital education matters, paying scant regard to other front partners'' opinions, the CPI note says.
The most glaring flaw of the education policy is that it has failed to create a sense of responsibility and accountability among a large section of the teaching and non-teaching staff.
Today a significant section of the teaching community is using the profession for narrow individual interests and for earning social status and money.
In schools, the trouble began ever since the teachers started setting their priorities on politics and panchayat activities.
The document says that doubts are being raised by many about the transparency in recruitments in schools and colleges.
The appointment of incompetent people in the college administration, for example has already to several complications.
Many competent candidates are often heard saying that it is tough to get a job without owing allegiance to a particular political party (read CPI-M), the CPI note says and demands a thorough discussion about this at the highest level of the Left Front.
It does not spare School Education Minister and the Finance Minister for their decisions on banning private tuitions, the threat for stopping teachers salary if they do not sign on the bond and issuing confusing directives regarding teachers pension.
Many teachers and non-teaching staff are today running from pillar to post for getting their due pension.
Sadly, Bhupesh Bhavan mandarins say, most of the old school buildings are now in extremely bad shape. There are many instances of frequent roof collapse, causing injury to students.
The state government does not have any plan for renovation nor it is in a position to fill up 36000 vacant posts in the both secondary and higher secondary schools.
Even students community has become sceptic about the fairness in assessing answerscrips.
The manner in which numbers are raised following review and scrutiny of both Madhyamik and HS papers and the respective boards bring out faulty results and merit lists every year, eventually prompt growing number of students to move the court, Bhupesh Bhavan notes states.