Bhopal: Though the Right to Education Act
has come into force from April 1 in the entire country
including Madhya Pradesh, the state is facing a shortage of
nearly 1.4 lakh teachers.
"There is a shortage of 1.4 lakh teachers in Madhya
Pradesh and we are taking steps to appoint teachers soon to
maintain healthy student-teacher ratio," Madhya Pradesh School
Education Minister, Archana Chitnis told reporters.
On the issue of providing free and compulsory
education to children between the age group of 6-14 years as
per the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education
Act, the Minister said that people, parents and public
representatives were requested to encourage children to enroll
themselves in the schools.
"We have also directed private schools to admit 25 per
cent poor children whose fees will be borne by the State Government," she said.
Chitnis said that at present there are two categories
of teachers in Madhya Pradesh -- regular and contractual.
While regular teachers are appointed by the state government,
contractual ones are the employees of the local bodies which
are independent in nature after the enactment of Panchayati
Raj Act.
PTI
