Rs 141 crore plan to upgrade schools in Punjab

Tibba, Kapurthala, Dec 29 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the Government was implementing a Rs 141 crore plan to upgrade schools across the state and was tying up with the British Council to train teachers in English language.

Talking to mediapersons at village Tibba before laying the foundation stone of the upgradation of senior secondary school, Mr Badal said 351 schools- -- three each in 117 assembly constituencies in the State, would be upgraded at the cost of Rs 141 crores by April next year.

He claimed that for the first time 1000 English teachers were being recruited besides the appointment of 14000 teachers to fill the vacant posts.

The State Government had contacted the British council for taking their expertise in the improvement of English teaching skills, Mr Badal said, adding one Adarsh school would be opened in the each assembly constituency and claimed that the Centre had adopted the Adarsh school scheme and decided to open 6000 Adarsh schools in the country.

Commenting on the state-wide protest by government teachers against the holding of seminars of teachers in the winter vacations, Mr Badal said teachers should not hold dharnas as the government was ready to redress their problems.

Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, who was also present, said the seminars were mandatory for teachers to upgrade their knowledge but the government would find an amicable solution to the problem of agitating teachers.

Meanwhile, about two hundred teachers today staged a dharna at the bus stand and blocked the vehicular traffic to lodge their protest against holding of seminars in the holidays and also demanded the reinstatement of teachers who were suspended for boycotting the seminars.

Later, Mr Badal, in a public meeting at village Tibba, said Punjab government was giving top prioirty to education to improve the falling literacy rate in the State. He stressed that development was not possible without education.

UNI