Jamshedpur: A review meeting of the Education Department was organized in the General Assembly Auditorium under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Karna Satyarthi. During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner gave several important directions aimed at improving the quality of education and ensuring better infrastructure and academic outcomes in government schools across the district.
The Deputy Commissioner directed officials to ensure 100 percent enrollment in residential schools and Chief Minister Utkrishta Vidyalayas. He instructed the Education Department to initiate the process of advertising and filling all vacant posts in residential schools at the earliest.
Concerned over irregular student attendance and dropout cases, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized maintaining an accurate track record of every child to ensure 100 percent retention. He expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of several schools in urban areas in the recent Class 10 and 12 examinations and asked the District Education Officer to reassess the quality of teaching in these institutions. Instructions were also issued to provide special coaching and support to students appearing for compartmental exams in low-performing schools.
To improve administrative monitoring, the Deputy Commissioner instructed that attendance of teachers in all government and government-aided schools be regularly recorded through the e-Vidya Vahini app. He made it clear that teachers and wardens must not be assigned non-academic duties during school hours to allow them to focus entirely on educational activities.
Encouraging support for students preparing for competitive exams, the Deputy Commissioner said that efforts should be made to motivate and guide students aspiring to clear exams like NEET and JEE, so that they can pursue higher education and professional careers.
On the issue of the Mid Day Meal Scheme, the Deputy Commissioner directed that the food served must be in accordance with the prescribed menu, including fruits and eggs. He also emphasized that kitchens and stores should be kept in hygienic and safe conditions and that schools should maintain proper drinking water and toilet facilities. He instructed that the cooks working in the school kitchens be linked with relevant government welfare schemes, including pension benefits.
Health and hygiene in schools were another key point of discussion. The Deputy Commissioner instructed that monthly health check-ups be conducted for all students and that records of their eyesight, hearing ability, nutrition levels, and height-weight data be maintained systematically.
To address infrastructure challenges, the Deputy Commissioner called for a status report on under-construction school buildings, dilapidated structures, and schools operating without buildings. He asked for updates on availability and usage of resources such as libraries, smart classrooms, science and ICT labs, language labs, and STEM labs. He emphasized that all available resources should be utilized effectively in the interest of students.
Additionally, reports were sought on the condition of open gyms, bench desks, electricity supply, drinking water systems, and separate toilet facilities for boys and girls. The Deputy Commissioner said that proper school infrastructure is essential for a safe and positive learning environment.
To bring qualitative improvement in classroom teaching, the Deputy Commissioner directed the District Education Officer to form a team of enthusiastic and innovative teachers who can make learning more engaging and practical in other schools through a ‘Parivartan Dal’ initiative.
He also reviewed the status of distribution of books, uniforms, stationery, bags, and shoes provided by the government. He emphasized that these materials must reach students on time to avoid disruption in their learning process. Regarding scholarships, he directed officials to resolve issues related to Aadhaar and bank account linking in coordination with banks so that students receive the benefits without delays.
District Education Officer Manoj Kumar, District Education Superintendent Ashish Pandey, BEEOs and other departmental officers were present in the meeting.
