Patna: In order to make teachers and headmasters of govt schools more accountable for their respective jobs, education department additional chief secretary (ACS) S Siddharth on Thursday initiated a system of random video calls to them to inquire about the various educational and other activities taking place at the institutions.
On the first day, the ACS inquired about the number of students and teachers present, the menu of the midday meal (MDM) and the upkeep of the school premises.
“The video calls will be made to 10 schoolteachers, selected randomly, on every working day and the calls will be made from my mobile number. Therefore, everyone concerned should be informed to respond to the video call from the number provided,” the ACS said. He added that the purpose of these calls was to check the conditions of schools, the attendance of students and other matters.
The video clips of the ACS speaking with schoolteachers and headmasters were shared where he was seen asking about the subjects being taught in the class. He even questioned the low number of male students in Class VI at a govt middle school in West Champaran. “Why is the number of boys so few in the class? Why are the walls of the school not repaired and whitewashed?” Siddharth questioned the headmaster over the call.
The ACS also expressed his dissatisfaction with many students not attending classes in their uniforms, a common issue observed in most of the schools he contacted. He also cross-checked the number of students present in the class compared to the total enrolment.
At another school in Ramgarh, Kaimur, Siddharth asked the headmaster to show him the students having their MDM and reprimanded the headmaster for not arranging proper seating for the students during their meals as previously instructed. He also asked the students about the meals prepared that day.
Notably, just a few days ago, the ACS had expressed disappointment over the low attendance of students and teachers in schools and instructed the officers concerned to ensure the situation was corrected. He warned that actions would be taken against the inspecting officers and district education officers if the issue was not resolved.