SHILLONG, MAR 21: The state government on Monday informed the assembly that it did not make any commitment to take over the Assam Rifles Public School (ARPS) which is reportedly being closed down.
“There is no commitment that the government will take over the school at any juncture,” Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Education RC Laloo said in his reply to a zero hour notice moved by UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh in the assembly on Monday.
He said that if the school is to close down, the School Management Committee should inform the state government first and if assets of the school are handed over including land, the department will examined the issue at the highest level and take appropriate decision.
“Since the issue is known to the department, the department will take up the with the School Management and will also examine within the framework of the rules and regulations, so that the concerns of parents and students are addressed and taken care off,” Laloo said.
He also informed that the Directorate of School Education & Literacy (DSEL) has sought a detailed report on the issue of closure of the school from the Chairman of School Management Committee on March 17.
As per the report of the SMC, the teaching and non-teaching staff of ARPS, Laitkor filed a case in the Supreme Court seeking central government scales of pay and allowances for them.
“Supreme Court in its judgment directed the school authorities to pay the arrears and pay and allowances to the teaching and non-teaching staff of ARPS as per 6th Central Pay Commission with effect from January 1, 2006 amounting to Rs 8.12 crore which had put the school under immense financial pressure,” he said.
According to the report of the SMC, after detailed calculations, it was worked out that in order to pay the staff as per 6th CPC pay scales, the fees of the children would have to be enhanced by 60-70% from next academic session 2016-17 depending on the number of students.
The SMC had placed the status of ARPS before the governing body of the School on November 26, which after due deliberation decided to close down the school after the present academic session end in March 2016, due to the fact that there is huge gap between the revenue and expenditure, he said while quoting the report.
He said that all parents, teachers/staff and NEC were duly informed in December 2015 to look after the interests of the students as stipulated by CBSE by-laws.
Further, Laloo also informed that all necessary steps are being taken by the SMC and assistance is being provided to parents to ensure that the students are admitted in other Assam Rifles schools and other schools in Shillong as per their desire.
The deputy chief minister also informed that the issues and internal problems of the school were not intimated to the department of Education.
Laloo informed that only recently a representative of the school met senior officials for discussion and no detailed written report has been submitted so far on the closure.-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours