Education depatment to fill key posts soon

The state's School Education Minister, Rajendra Darda has finally shown the green signal to fill the vacancies in the top brass of the department within a week. Out of nine director-level posts, six are lying vacant for over a year.

Pledging support: Rajendra Darda also assured that schools that do not have playgrounds and other basic facilities would also be given immediate attention. File Pic

"I am going to appoint six full-time directors within a week's time to overcome the issue of top brass vacancies," said Darda, who was in the city to attend a state-level conference of All Maharashtra Education Service Gazetted Officers.

Currently, both primary and secondary education director's posts are vacant. Mahaveer Mane, commissioner of the exam council is handling the responsibility of the primary education director along with his current position. Similarly, Maharashtra state Board Chairman, Sarjerao Jadhav is looking after the post of secondary education director. Ironically no full time directors have been appointed for the Maharashtra state Exam Council and Adult and Continuing Education.

However, when this reporter spoke to Sarjerao Jadhav on the minister's recent announcement, he said, "Seniority wise I am suitable for state education director's post. But if asked I will hand over the charge of chairmanship of state board."

In another announcement Darda said, "In Zillha Parishads, Solapur and Thane districts don't have full time Education Officers (EO). Both these posts will be filled by Monday."

Lack of facilities
He admitted that many schools in the state still lack playgrounds and kitchen sheds for implementation of mid-day meal scheme. "Many schools that started before the introduction of RTE lack playgrounds. We are soon publishing a circular through which we will ask such schools to use grounds with a kilometer radius of their school," Darda added. u00a0