Mehta takes charge as edu min, praises ACS Pathak
Patna: Alok Mehta took charge as the state’s education minister on Monday and praised the department’s officials for improving the attendance of teachers and students in schools and recruitment of new teachers.
Without naming the department’s additional chief secretary, KK Pathak, and his strict approach towards improving the education system in the state, Mehta said, “Sometimes bitter pills help in fighting the disease.”
Pathak appraised Mehta about different directorates, units and their functioning during an hour-long meeting with the officials.
Later, while interacting with the media, Mehta said, “I am grateful to former minister Chandra Shekhar Ji, KK Pathak Ji and other officials of the department who have changed its face. Very soon this department will set an example across the country. It is under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav that so many new teachers have been recruited in Bihar.”
Mehta said his prime objective was quality education to the students, who would then be able to stand on their feet. “Education department is now on the right track and together we will take it to zenith. People have lot of expectations and I pray to God to help me meet that,” he added.
When asked about the delay in the posting of teachers recruited in the second phase, he replied, “We will sort it out.”
Mehta, who was land and revenue reforms department minister, replaced Chandra Shekhar a day after CM Nitish Kumar had an hour-long meeting with his deputy Tejashwi and RJD national president Lalu Prasad on Friday. The same evening, Pathak resumed duty after a week on leave.
Sources said the minor cabinet reshuffle was the agenda of Nitish-Lalu-Tejashwi meeting as Chandra Shekhar and Pathak had a long tussle and Nitish supported Pathak for his efforts to streamline school education in the state. Both Mehta and Chandra Shekhar are from RJD.
Source Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/alok-mehta-appointed-as-education-minister/articleshow/107067110.cms
