Panel for streamlining schools under study

By Our Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE, OCT. 10. The State Government proposed to appoint a committee to study the functioning of nursery, primary and matriculation schools for streamlining them, the Education Minister, Dr. M. Thambi Durai, said here today.

After attending the convocation of the Bharathiar University, the Minister told reporters here that he was well aware of complaints such as the high fee structure and poor facilities in many of these institutions. Hence, steps were afoot to streamline them.

Adverting to AUT's plea for single window system of admission in arts and science colleges too, he said ``it is not necessary because the demand for seats in these institutions is far lower than the availability.'' Even in the engineering colleges, 15,000 to 20,000 seats were vacant this year, he added.

However, as it was alleged that self-financing colleges were trying to fleece students luring them through some new courses, Government colleges had also been directed to start new courses in the self-financing stream from the next academic year. The fees for such courses would be comparatively lower than that in private institutions, he said.

On his advice to self-financing colleges to give UGC scales to their staff, the Minister said ``I still stick to this view and would insist on that.''

To a question, he said a ``malicious propaganda'' had been launched with regard to the written test for the recruitment of PG and graduate teachers in schools. ``We wanted to ensure quality and merit in recruitment through a scientific test in which all would get an opportunity to compete. The system is totally transparent.''

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Section  : Southern States
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