Education director calls ABE schools 'pampered'

Education director calls ABE schools 'pampered' TNN Sep 6, 2013, 01.58AM IST PANAJI: Calling the Archdiocese board of education (ABE) schools 'pampered institutions', director of education Anil Powar on Thursday said that the directorate of education (DoE) has written to the ABE stating that it will have no other choice but to accept the counsellors for secondary schools appointed by the state. The ABE had written to the DoE recently stating that the body has already appointed its own counsellors and that its schools should be allowed to continue with those counselors, while also not 'depriving' the ABE schools the state grants to pay salaries of the counsellors. Speaking on the sidelines of the state teachers' day event, Powar said, "These schools have been pampered institutions so far. It cannot continue. We have written to them telling them they will have to accept the counsellors appointed by us." The ABE had said that being minority institutions they have a constitutional right to appoint its own teachers and this should be maintained with the appointment of counselors as well. Powar informed that 61 counsellors have been appointed by the DoE who will visit each school at least once a week to interact with students and resolve their issues related to adolescence, family problems etc. Speaking at the teachers' day event earlier, Parrikar said that though there were 84 posts of counsellors to be filled only 61 have been appointed to ensure that only qualified and competent counsellors are appointed. TNN http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-06/goa/41833090_1_counsellors-abe-anil-powar Church plea for own school counsellors turned down September 6, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: The Education Department on Thursday disclosed that the Archdiocesan Board of Education’s request for appointing its own counsellors for its institutions has been turned down. “There is a scheme in place and the ABE institutions are also part of the scheme,” Education Director Anil Powar said. The counsellors are being appointed on contract basis and a scheme for appointment and remuneration has been chalked out, he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Thursday mulled a proposal for creating a Think Tank of educationists to study what ails the education system. Parrikar was addressing the 52nd State level Teachers Day function in Panjim where he said that the present mindset of the youth is driven by negativism resulting in self-destruction and both the society and teachers have to step in a big way to mould the students of today in a positive and right direction. Parrikar said that the government is also taking necessary steps by appointing counsellors in schools and so far 61 such qualified persons have been appointed and are already on the job. He said that through this important exercise students would be identified especially those going through depression due to domestic issues, adolescence and so on. Parrikar also impressed on the student community not to worry if they did not get good marks in exams pointing out that every child has some skill or the other. The chief minister who also holds the education portfolio, honoured eight senior teachers from the primary to higher secondary schools and directed the Education Department to get all previously feted educationists, possibly those feted over the last decade or more, to be part of the Think Tank, to improve systems in the interest of the younger generation. “It is very disturbing to read the news every day about increasing rapes in the country,” he said and pointed out that teachers have a key role to play, in addition to parents, to imbibe moral values in their children and respect for women. He said that there is trust deficit in the present scenario and while students should respect their teachers, that teachers should also earn respect from their students. Parrikar said that it is the endeavour of the government to create students with good character, good attitude and positive mindset. After felicitating the teachers, Parrikar pointed out that the selection for the teacher awardees is based on well defined criteria and free of government interference. “It is based on excellence and merit,” he said adding that even the Goa Scholars Scheme is foolproof, free of corruption, done by an independent committee, in a transparent manner. The education ministry has appointed 61 qualified and well-trained counsellors who are given a cluster of institutions where they have to render their services once a week. The Education Department is looking to appoint more counsellors. http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Local%20News/Church-plea-for-own-school-counsellors-turned-down/79126.html