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Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt moves to fix teacher shortage
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Education, Faisal Khan Tarakai, has announced a series of measures to tackle the shortage of teachers across the province. Speaking to the media, he stated that recruitment of teachers through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) is currently underway to ensure merit-based hiring of qualified educators. Under the Double Shift School Program, teachers are also being appointed on a temporary basis via Parent-Teacher Councils. Additionally, recruitment is ongoing in various districts under a UNICEF-supported initiative. The minister further revealed that interns are also being hired this year under a new scheme to support schools facing acute shortages. Emphasizing the importance of teacher presence in classrooms, Minister Tarakai said, "Every classroom must have a teacher — this is non-negotiable. We are committed to ensuring the availability of at least one teacher in each classroom across the province." He also highlighted the role of the Education Management Information System (EMIS), stating that comprehensive teacher data is being collected to guide effective planning and deployment. "We are focusing heavily on teacher training, and have finalized an agreement with the University of Cambridge to provide professional development for newly recruited teachers through ETEA," he added. The education minister also stressed the government's commitment to digital learning, stating that e-books and digital resources are being prioritized. "Tablets and internet connectivity will be integrated into the education system. We are modernizing our infrastructure to ensure that our children are equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century," said Tarakai.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Government formulating action plan for State Child Policy
The State government is formulating an action plan for the State Policy for Children, said Johny Tom Varghese, Director of Child Welfare and Special Services, at a State-level consultation in Chennai on Wednesday, ahead of World Day Against Child Labour. The consultation was organised by the Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He was speaking in a panel discussion on Collaboration between CACL and Government to Eradicate Child Labour. Speaking on Uninterrupted Childhood: Confronting New Realities and Formulating Strategies to Eradicate Child Labour, the Director pointed out the newly announced initiative 'Urimai Mutrum' will tackle child safety, healthy relationships and drug-related effects in the beginning phase. 'The School Education and the Children Welfare departments will work together for this initiative,' he said. Further to ensure that children who are deemed in need of care and protection continue to remain in school, Mr. Varghese stated that through the Child Welfare Committees , the child would be registered in the Education Management Information System and tracked if they miss school for over 15 days. 'An individual child care plan on nine categories is formulated and a State-level programme management unit with the School Education department will be formed to follow up on the child. We are aiming for 100% enrollment,' he stated. Advocate David Sundar Singh touched upon the various legal services offered by the State Legal Service Authority while Deputy Commissioner of Labour Ramesh Kumar spoke about the department's role in eradicating child labour. It is learnt that the action plan for the policy is expected to be out by July-end.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Chennai: Overloading of vehicles with schoolchildren raises concern among parents
As schools across Tamil Nadu reopened on Monday (June 2, 2025) after summer vacation, the sight of private autorickshaws and vans overloaded with children have become a common sight on the already congested roads in Chennai. This has caused concern among parents. 'Neither the school authorities nor drivers seem to want to take responsibility for the safety of the children. In the event of an accident, who will be to blame?' asked Vidya Rajkumar, a child rights activist and a parent herself. According to a State Government Order, an autorickshaw can only carry a maximum of five children up to the age of 14 or three adult passengers, excluding the driver. R. Anushka, a Class 8 student at a private school, recounted the time when there were six children, including her, in an autorickshaw. 'One of them was seated beside the driver, which is dangerous,' she added. In 2024, the School Education Department issued guidelines for school buses run by private schools, which included the mandatory appointment of female assistants, employment of drivers with a minimum experience of 10 years and no police cases against them, and installation of GPS and closed-circuit television cameras in the vehicles. The schools had to upload the details of the vehicles, drivers, and assistants on the Education Management Information System (EMIS) portal. Background checks Principals of schools in the city said the parents had a responsibility to thoroughly vet the drivers and their vehicles before they hire them. 'We have advised the parents to check the drivers' background and inspect the vehicles before availing themselves of the services,' said N. Vijayan, correspondent of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School, in Tambaram. 'There has been no checking of these vehicles. As a working parent, we do vet the drivers, but it has become common practice for them to pack as many children as they can into their vehicles,' said K. Rupa, the parent of a 13-year-old. S. Arumainathan, president, Tamil Nadu Students Parents Welfare Association, said the School Education Department should issue a circular to the other departments and schools regarding the issue. 'But the traffic police and Transport Department should also come forward and take action to curtail the issue,' he said. A senior official of the Greater Chennai Traffic Police said no complaints regarding the problem had been received. 'When complaints are filed, action can be taken, and a special drive will be conducted to crack down on such practices,' the official added.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- The Hindu
Overloading of vehicles dropping off schoolchildren raises concern among parents
As schools reopened on Monday, the sight of private autorickshaws and vans overloaded with children have become a common sight on the already congested roads. This has caused concern among parents. 'Neither the school authorities nor drivers seem to want to take responsibility for the safety of the children. In the event of an accident, who will be to blame?' asked Vidya Rajkumar, a child rights activist and a parent herself. According to a State Government Order, an autorickshaw can only carry a maximum of five children up to the age of 14 or three adult passengers, excluding the driver. R. Anushka, a Class 8 student at a private school, recounted the time when there were six children, including her, in an autorickshaw. 'One of them was seated beside the driver, which is dangerous,' she added. In 2024, the School Education Department issued guidelines for school buses run by private schools, which included the mandatory appointment of female assistants, employment of drivers with a minimum experience of 10 years and no police cases against them, and installation of GPS and closed-circuit television cameras in the vehicles. The schools had to upload the details of the vehicles, drivers, and assistants on the Education Management Information System (EMIS) portal. Background checks Principals of schools in the city said the parents had a responsibility to thoroughly vet the drivers and their vehicles before they hire them. 'We have advised the parents to check the drivers' background and inspect the vehicles before availing themselves of the services,' said N. Vijayan, correspondent of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School, in Tambaram. 'There has been no checking of these vehicles. As a working parent, we do vet the drivers, but it has become common practice for them to pack as many children as they can into their vehicles,' said K. Rupa, the parent of a 13-year-old. S. Arumainathan, president, Tamil Nadu Students Parents Welfare Association, said the School Education Department should issue a circular to the other departments and schools regarding the issue. 'But the traffic police and Transport Department should also come forward and take action to curtail the issue,' he said. A senior official of the Greater Chennai Traffic Police said no complaints regarding the problem had been received. 'When complaints are filed, action can be taken, and a special drive will be conducted to crack down on such practices,' the official added.
