States must give better financial security to teachers: Sibal

Pitching for better financial security to teachers in state government schools, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today said unless this is given priority the country would not be able to "get the best minds".

At a function to give away the CBSE awards 2009, Sibal said there has to be a better policy in states for teachers to ensure that they get a good deal and do not leave their profession in search of greener pastures.

He said that in the past, the government was concerned about the salary of bureaucrats and others in the service sector. "... In the process teachers were not given much importance," he said.

Pointing out that every state has its own policy, he said, "At the national level we only guide the state to help it make policy decisions. CBSE has a much better pay scale (compared to that offered by state governments)."

Unless states agree to provide adequate financial security to teachers, they would not get the best brains, he said.

The awards were given to 12 teachers in recognition of their service to education.

Quoting a noted management guru, Sibal said at present 220 million students attend schools across the country. Presently 14 million go to university and this figure has to go up to 500 million, he said.

"In other words, what you are doing in schools will directly impact the GDP of the country... The Growth Enrolment Ratio is presently 12.4 per cent and this should touch 30 per cent," he said.

Sibal said in the next two decades, the education sector would witness investments to the tune of billions of dollars and become the fastest growing sector in the country.