Asking the Odisha government to focus on quality education and proper health care in residential tribal schools, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) today urged the state to upgrade 'Ashram Schools' as model ones in each block.
"Such model schools may also work as reference point for other states to follow," NCST Chairman Rameshwar Oran said after holding discussion with a state government team led by Chief Secretary G C Pati.
The NCST delegation had a meeting here after completing a three-day visit of Odisha, from September 2 to September 5.
The issues pertaining to quality of education in tribal schools, security of the children, health care of the inmates, training to teachers for qualitative teaching, regular visit of the officers to tribal schools, exposure visits for the students in tribal hostels were discussed in the meeting.
The Commission suggested imparting attitudinal and behaviorial changes in the tribal students so as to enable them to participate in social mainstream.
Shyam Agrawal, Secretary of NCST appreciated the effort of the state government for establishing 11 to 15 'Ashrama Schools' and hostels in many blocks.
The Commission visited five districts like Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamala, Sundargarh and Keonjhar. The members of the Commission also interacted with students and teachers in some schools including Umree School in Jeypur, Gupteswar School in Baipariguda, Lingagarh School in G.Udayagiri, Kanjiapani girls hostel in Keonjhar and Kathapal school in Anandapur.
