Beginning next academic session, monitoring and inspection of schools will be a regular feature in the state education system. An “Inspection policy” is in the making and the draft has already taken shape which is likely to be implemented from academic session 2015.

“Every Panchayat Samiti in the state will have a cluster of 15 to 20 schools which will be monitored by the senior most Principal in the area” said Education minister Vasudev Devnani during a function held at the SIERT (State Institute of Educational Research and Training) here.

The Principals or the Head Masters will be responsible for the effective management of the schools falling in the cluster under them and they will have to make a monthly visit to each school.

The need for the inspection policy has arose after reports from many government schools in remote and tribal areas remaining closed most of the time. At present, the block education officer (BEO) or the assistant BEOs are responsible for 200 to 400 schools in each block which hampers the effective monitoring system.

Over burdened with responsibilities, the officers are not able to conduct regular inspection which leads teachers having their way in remote areas. “Principals should not just sit inside their rooms and act as messengers but should take responsibility to ensure quality education and management of the schools falling under their cluster” Devnani said.

The inspection policy which is expected to be implemented from the next session will ensure that schools function as per the calendar prescribed by the department, have proper infrastructure and other facilities required. Devnani also said that there will be one model school (adarsh vidhyalaya) in every panchayat.

Contributed by: Geetha Sunil Pillai