BY SAHIL RASGOTRA
Jammu: Thoughtless implementation of a private software company’s internship-cum-employment program in the schools of Jammu and Kashmir has put the educational institutions across the union territory in a tight spot.
‘Feeling sandwiched’, the schools are in a fix whether to continue doing their primary job of providing education and assessing children through examination, which in this case comes at the cost of facing the administration’s wrath for not facilitating the private company, which many here believe is a favourite of the government.
Jammu and Kashmir government is currently implementing HCL Tech Bee programme in the higher secondary schools of the UT, through which the students are given opportunity to work and study after completing Class 12th. The students are given a stipend of Rs 10,000 during the internship, followed by a salary of Rs 1.70-2.20 lakhs per annum once the students start full-time job with HCL Tech.
However, the thoughtless implementation of the program by the Samagra Shiksha has irked the schools across Jammu region to no end.
“The examination for class 11th are currently going on and the schools are asked to conduct screening tests for class 12th students for this private program. Should we focus on ensuring smooth conduct of examination which involves a lot of manpower and energies, or conduct these screening tests for this private company,” said a visibly annoyed head of institution from Samba district.
It may be mentioned the HCL is screening the students of Mathematics studying in higher secondary schools for orientation and short listing of students for its Tech Bee programme.
“The screening test involve the students who have appeared in 12th class examination this year. These students are either busy preparing for the competitive exams including the entrance tests for further admissions or have gone on vacations. Why are we being asked to force these students to come to schools and appear for the screening test, that too of a private company,” said principal of another school in Jammu.
Not just that, the HCL’s screening test would require either the usage of schools’ ICT labs or the schools have to make arrangements for HCL to conduct their tests. This is nothing but sheer display of bureaucratic force, he added.
Another school from Samba district laments that the exercise has more harm to it than good.
“The entire curriculum and the examination schedule is being disturbed by this exercise. We are currently conducting the examination for class 11th which would go on till April 26. They also want the services of our Mathematics Lecturers. Even if the government wanted to do this, atleast they could have consulted with the stakeholders. Working in isolation in this manner will prove to be of no good,” said the principal.
A couple of other schools contacted Balwinder Chib, State Head, HCL Tech Bee Programme to discuss the matter.
However, Chib, who has been notified as the officer incharge for information purposes, reportedly paid no heed to the multiple requests made by the various schools, and instead told the heads of institutions that he is the ‘state coordinator’ for the exercise, contrary to what has been mentioned in the official orders.
The Earth News tried contacting the office of Chief Education Officer Samba Ram Pal on the official number displayed on the website, but the number apparently ‘did not exist’.
Efforts to contact Deputy Commissioner Samba also failed.
