Best brains desert govt schools

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, June 27, 2007

It can be called brain drain. Poor infrastructure and lack of choice of subjects are the chief reasons why government schools are losing meritorious students in Class XI. Government schools are unable to offer computer science and high scoring laboratory based subjects like biology, geography, statistics, home management and nutrition.
Crestfallen at losing the best brains, teachers have approached the school education department for immediate remedy. “Students want to take up subjects like computer science but we do not have full time teachers. Many students have left government schools and we have submitted a memorandum to the school education department,” said Dipak Das, general secretary of Wes Bengal Government School Teachers’ Association.
There are 44 government schools and each of them has at least 10 computers. The problem is lack of quality teachers. The companies provide for computer and teachers. The schools collect Rs 35 every month from all students as computer education fee. “The teachers given by the companies are fit to make the students computer literate. However, they cannot handle the course and we do not have control over them,” Das said.
Teachers blame the companies for not maintaining the computers and many of them are out of order. “Hindu School gives Rs 35000 to the companies monthly. Instead of giving money to the companies, the government can provide for two full time teachers and also maintain the computers. It will be a more profitable proposition,” said Das.
The teachers have also urged the government to select computer science teachers through the Public Service Commission exams before the beginning of the next academic session. So by 2008, the government schools can retain their best students.
Many government schools are unable to offer modern lab based subjects like biology, geography and statistics. “Most of the schools do not have teachers and laboratory for these subjects,” said Das.
“Lab based subjects are more scoring and that is why students want to take it up. Our inability to cater to this popular demand is costing us. Despite the teachers best efforts, we are unable to retain talent,” Das added. Many government schools are also unable to offer top arts subjects like education and music, which is very scoring and has a high demand. Reacting to the demand, school education minister Partha De said, “We will look into the problem and see what can be done.”
Meanwhile, three government schools, one in Kalyani and two in Cooch Behar are not offering science stream thus losing out their best students to government sponsored and private schools in the locality.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com