919 satellite schools proposed in MP

Bhopal, Jul 19: Satellite schools will be opened in the current academic session in as many as 919 habitats spread over 35 districts in Madhya Pradesh to provide primary education facility in every one kilometre radius.

To facilitate opening of schools at those places devoid of education facility at present, the state government relaxed the norms for having minimum student strength of 25 for opening of a primary school and reduced it to ten.

Announcing this at a function organised here on the occasion of Guru Poornima yesterday, Education Minister Jagannath Singh said each satellite primary school would have classes from one to five and would be conducted by a grade three contractual teacher.

Appointment of contractual teachers in 394 such schools in 13 tribal-dominated districts would be made by the Tribal Welfare department, while in remaining 22 districts, appointments in 525 schools would be made by the Directorate of Public Instructions.

The teachers of satellite schools would be imparted induction training in the first year and other training during the service poeriod. Separate building will also be constructed for each satellite school.

In the first year of inception, Rs 10,000 would be spent on the purchase of teaching-learning equipment, besides Rs 5000 annual grant for ensuring other facilities.

Free text books and uniform would be provided in these schools.

UNI