Jammu, Sep 7: After facing the flak from all corners, the Board of School Education (BOSE) has constituted 30 special flying squads comprising board officials, principals and teachers of various schools to keep a check on the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) colleges across the state.
 Sources said that these squads have been given powers to de-affiliate institutes  found violating the norms and check the attendance of the students to bring reforms in the sector.
 They claimed that with ETT institutions, involving well organized educational mafia, turning out to be a headache for the authorities, the special squads will inspect the institutions to check the attendance of the students, infrastructure and other facilities.
 Though doubts are being raised over the success of the move, in view the business interests of some politically well connected people.
 “From this year onwards students who get admission to the course, will have to attend classes regularly as these flying squads will carry out regular checks. It is a sincere effort, but all depends on cooperation of colleges also”, said an official, preferring not to be named.
 Pertinently, recently a detailed survey conducted by BOSE had revealed disturbing facts about the functioning of these institutions in the state. Some private ETT institutes were found running on fake addresses and about 100 institutes are without adequate basic infrastructure like building and teaching staff.
 Sources said that though board officials were aware about the modus operandi of the educational mafia, but shockingly no action was taken. “Now it has become a huge challenge for the board. Though our role is only to conduct the exams but government also needs to take steps in curbing their mushroom growth of such institutes”, said an official. “The agent system is also giving a bad name to the board, which we are also trying to control from this year”, he said.
 At the moment 439 colleges and institutes are offering the course, with students mostly from outside the state. If sources are to be believed there are around 150 applications pending with the education department, for approval of new institutions, mostly in Jammu region.
 When contacted, Joint Secretary BOSE, R.K Gandotra, said that several steps have been taken to reform the sector. “Inspections to check facilities and attendance of the students are a few of the steps,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST