Shillong Mar 13: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday informed that the government is in the process of ‘rationalizing’ placement of teachers in schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the state in view of the fact that there schools with single-digit enrollment.

Replying during question hour in the Assembly to a question raised by Congress legislator from Mahendraganj, Dikkanchi D Shira, Rymbui said, there are many SSA schools with single-digit enrollment of students.

He also pointed out that though the teacher-pupil ratio is 1:30, there are schools which are functioning with just two teachers teaching only two or four students.

“Therefore the government is in the process to rationalize the teachers in the SSA schools so that resources of the government is not wasted,” Rymbui said.

The minister further informed that there are 395 lower primary schools with 808 teachers and 508 upper primary schools with 1874 teachers.

Raising another supplementary question, Shira said that there are two-three schools being set up within 1-2 kilometres, and the Minister informed that as per norms, a lower primary school should be set up within the vicinity of 1 km and upper primary school within 3 km from the village.

The minister also assured to look into the request of the member for conducting an inquiry to find out whether such teachers are present in the schools.

Congress MLA from Nongpoh, Mayralborn Syiem also sought to know if the government has any plan to allow private schools with good enrolment for availing SSA grants.

On this, Rymbui said the effort of streamlining the system is still in the planning stage right now.

He also highlighted few preliminary steps proposed to be taken by the government which include GSI mapping of all schools.