Agency dumps project midway as ‘personal favours’ denied

TNN Bureau. Updated: 12/17/2017 1:20:47 AM Front Page

Vocational Education Scheme

BIVEK MATHUR


JAMMU: A private agency left the implementation of Vocational Education Scheme in Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools of Jammu and Kashmir midway after the state government denied certain favours sought by the agency, thus delaying the implementation of the scheme in time.
Sources in Education Department told The News Now that since 2011, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, has approved the implementation of the Vocational Education Scheme in 352 schools out of which the scheme stands implemented in 132 schools only.
"Of the 132 schools, 60 are in Jammu division, while 72 are in Kashmir division, sources said.
In the year 2013-14, sources said the MHRD approved implementation of the scheme in 22 secondary and higher secondary schools of the state, while in the year 2014-15, 110 more J&K schools were approved by the MHRD to implement the scheme.
"No school was approved by the GoI to implement the scheme in the year 2015-16, while 220 schools were asked to implement the scheme in the next year, 2016-17 respectively," sources maintained.
"Until 2014-15 i.e. approval to 132 schools, 22 in 2013-14 and 110 in 2014-15, J&K government didn't implement the scheme in state schools. The implementation started only after getting approval for 132 schools. Until June this year, the scheme was completely implemented in all the 132 secondary and higher secondary schools in the first phase," sources added.
They added that under second phase, the scheme was to be implemented in the remaining 220 schools but a private agency made the implementation of the scheme delayed after the State Education Department denied certain personal favours to the agency.
Tufail Mattoo, Director RMSA, Jammu and Kashmir, said, "Under second phase, the scheme was expected to be implemented in 220 schools, but a private agency left the implementation work midway.
"Though, the issue is with only 20-22 schools. In the remaining around 200 schools, the implementation is going smoothly."
On being asked about the reasons the agency left the implementation work midway, he said, "The agency was seeking extra GP fund for its employees.
"Had the agency been paid extra GP fund, the beneficiary would have been at the loss. So, we decided to cancel the contract with the agency and it is the reason, the implementation has been delayed."
On next move of the state government to smoothen the implementation of the scheme, he said, "We have deployed another agency to complete the implementation work.
Pertinently, Vocational Education provides job-specific technical training for work in the trades. These programs generally focus on providing students with hands-on instruction, and can lead to certification, a diploma or certificate.


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