Govt school enrolments to begin at age 4 from next year

Gazetted status for headmasters under active consideration

“Majority of children belonging to poor Sikkimese families attend Government schools. In order to start them on quality formal education from the age of four years itself, our government has decided to launch LKG and UKG classes in select government schools from the next academic session,” said Chief Minister Pawan Chamling while replying to a query during a press meet here at Samman Bhawan on Tuesday, 29 Sept.
He said, “As of now, government schools are enrolling only children aged six years and above but private schools are admitting children from a much younger age. Children belonging to poorer families cannot afford such private nursery schools”.
Mr. Chamling further said that most of the School Mothers are presently sitting idle under Panchayats' jurisdiction. “By commencing LKG and UKG classes all of them will be engaged in the schools,” he added.
On why his government took so long to decide on the same, the Chief Minister said, “To reach a decision making level, one has to go through learning and several experiences. This is the only reason.”
Replying to a query with regard to giving gazetted officer status to headmasters and headmistresses of Junior and Secondary level schools, the Chief Minister said, “Our government had already sanctioned the proposal but because of some technical hindrances in the HRD Department the process is stuck at present. As soon as the file gets cleared from the Department and reaches us or comes for approval, we will pass it immediately.”
It may be mentioned here that the proposal was announced by the Chief Minister last year. In the meantime some school heads were complaining that HRDD is not properly responding to the issue.