HC seeks data on pupil-teacher ratio in all govt schools
The court issued the direction recently while hearing a petition filed by a teacher seeking intervention against his transfer from one school to another in Cuttack district.
In what it called "a bit unusual approach", the court directed the state authorities to submit PTR data for all schools, specifying existing vacancies and the measures being undertaken to fill them.
In his Aug 7 order, Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad noted that the transfer appeared to have been effected before the expiry of the minimum retention period (three years), which, as per the extant transfer guidelines, is to be reckoned from Aug 8, 2023.
Justice Shripad stayed the transfer of the teacher and observed that several such cases are being brought before the court, where the PTR is allegedly not maintained, adversely impacting the quality of instruction. "This court has been seeing many cases of similar nature, wherein very often it is contended with prima facie force that in many schools the pupil-teacher ratio is not maintained and that would affect the quality of instructions and teaching enormously," Justice Shripad noted.
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He emphasised the critical importance of PTR as laid down in the National Education Policy formulated by the Centre. Stating that the Right to Education is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, Justice Shripad remarked that it could not turn a "Nelson's eye" to administrative deficiencies in the education sector.
NEP-2020 recommends a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of under 30:1 at each school level, with a preference for 25:1 in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.
It is similar to the recommendations of the RTE Act, 2009.
"The future of the nation depends upon the quality of education given to growing children," Justice Shripad observed.
Petitioner Sitakanta Samal has been allowed to continue as assistant teacher in Bapuji Govt High School under the administrative control of block education officer, Nischintakoili, until the next hearing. The matter will be taken up again after two weeks.
According to the order issued on July 24, the petitioner was transferred to Baunsput Govt High School under block development officer, Banki, "on the ground of administrative exigency/rationalisation".
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