By: Nisar Hussain
‘EDUCATION’, a comprehensive term, is regarded as the most potent phenomenon to anchor a positive change in the world. It is education that leads a person from ignorance to knowledge and from darkness to light.
Article 21 A states that the state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 6 to 14 years.
From the past two decades since the inception of SSA scheme whose slogan was the ‘universalization of elementary education’, a number of institutions were established by the then Government in order to achieve the goal of universalization of education. It was seen as a welcome step for achieving hundred percent literacy throughout the country.
But as we know that before initiating any scheme there are certain rules and regulations under which the scheme is run and regulated. In the beginning, all the newly established institutions ran smoothly and progressed with the passage of time. But suddenly there was a considerable amount of decline in the functioning of these institutions and the department got compelled to merge some of these institutions thereby creating negative impression in the eyes of the general masses.
Now the question is that if this scheme triggered some negative repercussions, who is to be blamed? Is it the candidate who was appointed in the institution or the concerned officials who misused the scheme by opening more than required centers contradictory to the rules and regulations of the scheme? Or was there any inherent flaw in the scheme itself?
The scheme was launched in 2003 and there had been a set pattern of establishing institutions under it. It was the responsibility of the concerned Zonal Head to seek applications from the desirous eligible candidates through an advertisement published in any dailies for the wide publication of the notification. After that the candidates would apply as per the set guidelines. After proper scrutinization of the documents, a panel of meritorious candidates was formed for approval from the competent authority and after following proper procedure candidates were appointed. Now, if there was any fault or mistake in establishing a particular institution at a particular vicinity, how is it that a candidate would be blamed for the same? Can we make him/her responsible or the other stake holders?
In conclusion,I would say that there cannot be a single factor responsible for the weakness or failure of a policy and a comprehensive review is must to gauge the success or failure of a given scheme.
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