Thiruvananthapuram: The proceedings to fix the teacher-student ratio based on student strength in public schools have begun in Kerala even as the data on more than 25,000 students are yet to be ascertained. The teacher-student ratio recommendations filed by the school headmasters are now being examined at the Education Department offices.
The ratio is fixed based on the annual headcount of students. The number of students, divisions and periods in each school are being considered for the process.
The ratio in all government-aided schools need to be determined before August 21. However, the errors and problems with the documents of thousands of students are yet to be solved.
Only students with a proper Unified Identification Number (UID) or Aadhaar would be considered for arriving at the ratio. Nevertheless, the errors and mismatches in the data in school records and the UID data of thousands of students are yet to be sorted. The UIDs for more than 25,000 students haven’t been given from the schools. These students also will not be considered for the ratio determination process.
During the headcount on the sixth working day of an academic year the Aadhaar of students should be examined, states a government order.
The General Education Department, meanwhile, is apprehensive about determining the ratio by excluding so many students.
This ratio determination process could also be hit due to a litigation in the Kerala High Court. The school managements have filed a plea with the High Court challenging the government order to entrust the headmasters with the task of submitting recommendations regarding the teacher-student ratio. The school managements allege violation of norms.
Last year’s ratio determination was completed only in March, at the end of the previous academic year. As the process for the new ratio determination work is on, the previous ratio is not relevant anymore.
This year the headcount in schools was carried out on June 7.