The Jammu and Kashmir Government has framed new guidelines for the operation of the tuition centres across the state.
Tuition centres in the state have been in the news for the past two years for flouting guidelines, affecting the academics of students.
In Jammu, the winter capital of the state, the government has put a blanket ban on the private practice of the teachers, engaged in government schools.
“All Chief Education Officers (CEOs) are directed to ensure that there is total prohibition on the practice of private tuitions by government officials,” Director, School Education, Jammu, has said.
As per the order, disciplinary action will be initiated against any principal, headmaster, lecturer, master, teacher or Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher, teaching at a private tuition centre or associated with them in any capacity.
“The CEOs are directed to personally monitor this assignment and conduct surprise raids on such private coaching centres,” the Director added.
It has come to the fore that some principals, lecturers, masters and teachers of government institutions are giving private tuition and are actively associated with running private tutorials, the order read.
“The acts of the government teachers, involved in private tuition, is moral turpitude and serious violation of service conduct rules,” the official said.
Asking the CEOs to crack down on such teachers, the School Education Director directed them to constitute committees of senior officials, with impeccable integrity, at the district and zonal levels to monitor the implementation of the ban.
In the summer capital Srinagar, the government said it would take action against the private tuition centres found lacking basic infrastructure.
A committee comprising the Director, School Education, Kashmir, Joint Director, Elementary Education, and one expert member has recommended that the pupil-teacher ratio may be fixed at 1:50 after taking into account the infrastructure facilities of the coaching institutes and availability of space.
“Heating/cooling facilities, CCTVs and other safety devices, besides audio/video devices, parking areas and waiting hall should be available for the students,” reads the order.
The competent authority, as per the government order, can extend the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) beyond 1:50 in exceptional circumstances.
“For determination of the PTR, the competent authority shall conduct field inspection and follow the principle of natural justice,” reads the government order.
The government has also ordered that all coaching centres should publish the details of infrastructure, particulars of teaching faculty and class schedule of each faculty member on its website and on the notice board.
“Notify every change in the teaching faculty or class schedule a week in advance and publish the summary result at the end of the each session while sending detailed results with names to the competent authority,” the order reads.
