Ministerspeak: Maluka(Edu minister)

Ministerspeak: Looking ahead
‘Will restore people’s faith in govt schools’
— Sikander Singh Maluka, Education Minister, Punjab

Though just a matriculate, Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka is becoming attuned with his department and is making waves. Firm and authoritative as Power Minister more than a decade back, he is expected to call the shots even now. Maluka is on the fast lane, streamlining transfers, proposing a commission to revise the school syllabi and trying to bringing in more English in the government school curriculum. In an interview with Jangveer Singh, he speaks of his future plans
What has been your impression about the Education Department?
The performance has been a little lacklustre. I want to take Punjab to the No.1 slot in the field of education. I have found that teachers have been sent to cities on false pretexts. There are cities with two teachers available for one class. But in villages of Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur and Sangrur districts, there is a shortage of teachers. Teachers are taking long leave leaving students in the lurch.
What corrective steps are you taking?
I have put a stop to “on demand” postings. All teachers sent on deputation to various places are being recalled. I have directed that the strength of teachers be rationalised all over the state. There should be one teacher for every 30 students. The student, teacher ratio needs to be corrected.Teachers will not be given leave for more than three months. Anyone wanting to go on leave for years together will have to resign.
You have ruffled feathers with two high-profile suspensions. Is corruption an issue in your department?
I believe there is some truth in allegations about corruption in the Education Department. I admit touts exist in our office here and in offices of district education officers. I have told my district officers that I will take strict action in case any such case comes to my notice. I have suspended the Gurdaspur education officer after complaints were received against him. I have also suspended an adminstrative officer at the headquarters here after she failed to move a file in time.
What is on top of your priority list?
We need to build upon our infrastructure. In Majha and southern Malwa areas, schools are without toilets. There is no clean drinking water facility in several schools and some schools do not have a boundary wall. I want to correct this situation as quickly as possible.
What is your agenda for the first 100 days in office?
First, I want to ensure that teachers take their classes regularly. We will go in for biometric machines in urban areas. I want to introduce vocational courses on the US pattern. This will first be taken up in a few districts and then introduced elsewhere. I also want to set up a commission that can look into the school syllabi and revise it as per the present-day needs. I also have to take a call on whether we should introduce semester system in government schools as recommended by the State Education Board.
Are any reforms in the offing?
I have decided to go in for a transparent transfer policy. Teachers will be transferred in May and their cases reviewed only after a year. A teacher can opt for a posting, but once this request is accepted, he or she will have to remain at that station for three years. This is necessary so that the studies of students are not disrupted. Besides, to ensure there is no mid-session disruption in studies, teachers will be retired either on March 31 or September 30.
Is teachers’ recruitment on the cards?
Yes. There is a shortage in rural areas. At least 15-20 per cent posts are lying vacant. I will propose to the government to create a recruitment board for the Education Department or outsource this work to a private agency.
This work has been done by the Punjab Public Service Commission or the Subordinate Services Selection Board till now.
Surveys say only SC and BC students go to government schools and just 4 per cent of rural students opt for higher education. Does this worry you?
Yes. I have already held detailed talks with teachers’ unions. We have teachers more qualified than those in private schools. But unfortunately people do not have faith in government education. I will work to restore people’s faith in state education by doing away with “sifarishi” honours and awarding teachers on merit only. Teachers will also be encouraged to reduce the school dropout rate.
Any measures for improving rural students’ performance in maths and science?
In rural areas, the number of maths and science students at the higher secondary level is very less. I have decided to form clusters for teaching different subjects. We will provide transport facilities to students to help them reach these places where senior teachers will take large classes. We have also decided to have sports periods in the evening and a weekly special period to make senior students aware about the ill- effects of drug abuse.
What about the demand for more stress on English in government schools?
I feel this is a must. We teach English only as a subject as the medium of instruction is Punjabi. If we switch over to English as the medium of instruction, it will also invite criticism. I am open to a solution to this problem.