BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to merge Directorate of Mass Education with Directorate of Elementary Education with immediate effect.
The decision has been taken as per approval of the Cabinet to a proposal in this regard on May 24, 2006. The implementation committee had also recommended reorganisation of School and Mass Education Department on May 18, 2013.
Official sources said reorganisation of School and Mass Education Department has already started at district and block levels. The district offices of the Mass Education have already merged with the District Education Offices and staff have already been adjusted. The District Education Officer is at present looking after the work relating to Mass Education at the district level.
Directorate of Mass Education will function as a wing of Directorate of Elementary Education after the merger. Official sources said the merger of the two Directorates was felt necessary because of the reduction of workload in Directorate of Mass Education. Besides, separate field offices of Mass Education are no longer in existence.
The Director of Mass Education will be replaced by a Joint Director who will look after implementation of the Sakshar Bharat programme with skeleton staff. Official sources said the Director, Elementary Education will look after adjustment and deployment of the existing staff of Directorate of Mass Education for effective utilisation of their services.
The Finance Department had given concurrence to the proposal on April 9, 2015. Besides a Joint Director, the Mass Education wing will have two Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors for implementation of evaluation of different schemes.
Official sources said one Deputy Director will be adjusted in the Directorate of Elementary Education. Two surplus Assistant Directors will be posted to Directorates of Elementary Education and Secondary Education. Other surplus staff will be adjusted in the Directorate of Elementary Education.