Ranch : The state budget has a special focus on the education sector with Rs. 10,517.64 crore — 13.90% — of the total budget allotted to it.
While presenting the budget, chief minister Raghubar Das said the government aims to increase the gross enrollment ratio (GER) in primary education from 98.09 to 100.00. The budget also lays emphasis on higher and technical education. Das said the government aims to increase GER in higher education from 15.4 to 32.
The budget proposed post creation for 2,079 graduate trained teachers for 189 high schools and 3,080 post graduate trained teachers in 280 Plus Two government schools in 2017-18. Also, there was a proposal for creation of 10,749 teachers’ posts in 3,583 primary schools this year.
Emphasizing on infrastructural facilities in government schools, Das said benches and desks will be available in all the schools this year. Also, all the schools will be electrified in the next two years.
A provision for providing LPG cylinders and gas stoves for preparing mid-day meal in schools and food in anganwadi centres has also been proposed in the budget. So far fuelwood was being used for cooking at these places.
To improve quality of education, computer classes, moral education, general knowledge and spoken English classes will be conducted at government schools from this year. There is a proposal of opening libraries at panchayat level.
The CM said that in the next three years, every panchayat will have its own library. A new project, Mukhyamantri Shaikshanik Bhraman Yojna (CM educational tour project) will be introduced in the coming year where students will be taken outside the state on educational tours.
The budget proposed opening of engineering colleges in Bokaro, Ranchi and Deoghar along with upgradation of Ranchi College into a university and establishment of three new private universities. There is also a proposal of starting two new course in Ranchi University from year 2017-18 including performing arts and archaeology. The CM announced upgrading libraries and laboratories in colleges and universities and provision of free wi-fi at educational institutions.
With aim to make 20 lakh youth skilled in five years, the budget allotted for technical education and skill development has been increased from Rs. 145 crore of previous year to Rs. 704 crore this year.
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