Modi visits village school, launches academic scrutiny

GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Thursday launched the three-day state-wide “Gunotsav” (academic scrutiny exercise) with a surprise visit to a primary school in Kheda district, an official statement said.

He spent an hour moving from one classroom to another at the school in Kanijvanta village, talking to students, teachers and guardians. He asked the young students simple questions to enquire their level of grasping power, their interest in games and sports, writing, arithmetic, reading habits, tourism, computers, etc.

The drive is being conducted for the second year on a much larger scale than the previous year. During the first year, the stress was on encouraging 12-lakh weak school children continue their education. The effort came in for praise from the Unicef, too.

This year, the review comprises evaluation of nearly 33,000 schools into four grades during three days by a 3,000-strong team of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other senior officers, besides ministers. This would involve one lakh man-hours. The stress is on gradation of teachers and improving the skills of weak ones.

Speaking at a village meeting, Modi said that hundreds of crores of rupees have been spent on education in the past but it remains neglected due to complacency.