PANJIM, SEPT 6
In what sounded like another tall promise, Education Minister Babush Monserrate on Monday spoke about terminating the contract system for teachers at all levels in a bid to bring about the much-needed parity in the noble profession.
Monserrate, who was speaking at the official 49th Teacher’s Day function, observed, “We believe the contract system must end once and for all. Our belief is that quality education requires quality teachers for which they should be given their dues and at all levels, appointments should be on a regular basis.”
He said a step in this direction would be their commitment to regularise the services of more than 520 contract computer teachers in the State. In the last two years we have tried our best to bring cheers to the teaching fraternity, he claimed.
Justifying this, the minister spelt out the pay raise for contract teachers teaching in colleges and vocational teachers at different levels.
Monserrate stressed the State had plans to undertake a massive training programme for teachers at all levels and to promote widespread usage of computers as a teaching aid in classrooms.
“Computer-aided teaching and learning will occupy centrestage in the training programme for all school teachers. Primary teachers will be well grounded in language and mathematical skills to be passed on to students,” he mentioned.
Besides, being on the threshold of posting regular computer teachers in government secondary and higher secondary schools, the education minister said that the State was about to replace contract-and-lecture-basis vocational teachers in government schools with those on regular pay.
Monserrate promised the laptop scheme would be extended for primary teachers this financial year, even as he said over 3,000 college and school teachers already possessed a laptop provided by the government under its scheme.
In a repeat assurance Monserrate said the curriculum for diploma education would be revamped. At the last Teachers’ Day function, too, the minister had made this promise, but so far nothing has happened.
Earlier, he and the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat felicitated eight outstanding teachers from across the State. Both of them acknowledged their contribution to the field.
Chandrabhaga Shetgaonkar, Shankar Budke, Subhash Lotlikar, Dattatray Ghanekar, Premanand Mahambre, Maria Gonsalves, Shrikant More and Subhash Naik were the eight teachers felicitated today. Their contribution to teaching field was lauded by Secretary (Education) M Modassir and Director of Education Celsa Pinto, who were also present at the function.
