Montek astonished on teachers' absence in primary schools

Allahabad, Sep 10 (UNI) Expressing astonishment on the absence of teachers in schools, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia noted that lack of trained teachers in primary and secondary schools was a matter of grave concern.

He was delivering the 22nd G B Pant Memorial Lecture on 'Emerging constraints on India's growth' here on the 28th foundation day function of Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute and 120th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Pt Govind Ballabh Pant.

Dr Ahluwalia said the absence rate of teachers, especially in primary classes was astonishing. Lack of trained teachers was another serious issue. Therefore, emphasis should be laid on their training.

''Dropout rate in primary schools has slowed down. Hence, importance should be given to secondary education. There is a need of qualitative change in the system,'' he suggested.

Dr Ahluwalia said steps were being taken to bring down the dropout level from the present 27 per cent to 15 per cent in the 11th five year plan.

Stressing the need for more infrastructure to the agriculture sector, he said due to lack of marketing facilities, a large number of agriculture produce perished.

''The agricultural growth has taken a dip of 3.6 per cent, which used to be 8.5 per cent annually. To overcome this, both the central and state governments should work jointly,'' Mr Ahluwalia added.

''In the 11th plan, we are planning to provide better intrastructure facilities to farmers and encourage participation of private and public sectors in this field.'' He further stressed the need for farmers' training in the latest technology, besides suggesting for heavy investment in the field of power energy and creating awareness among people to conserve energy.

UNI