Panchayat Education Committee
The Panchayat Education Committee (PEC) is a very important people's committee working to improve the quality of education and the physical conditions of schools in the Gram Panchayats of Kerala.
As part of the People's Planning Movement in Kerala, these committees were given more crucial responsibilities when the administration of schools was handed over to the local bodies.
The structure and main responsibilities of this committee are as follows:
1. Structure of the Committee
The PEC is formed with extensive participation at the Panchayat level:
Chairman: Gram Panchayat President.
Vice Chairman: Chairman of the Health and Education Standing Committee.
Convener: The Headmaster/Principal of a Government/Aided School within the Panchayat limits. (Usually the Convener is appointed by the Panchayat Governing Body).
Members:
Other Standing Committee Chairmen.
Headmasters (HMs) of all schools in the Panchayat.
School PTA Presidents.
Education experts, representatives of teachers' associations.
AEO or his representative.
2. Key Responsibilities
Planning Education Plans: Preparing annual plans for the comprehensive development of the education sector in the Panchayat.
Improving Physical Conditions: Ensuring that facilities like buildings, drinking water, toilets, playgrounds, computer labs etc. are available in schools and allocating funds.
Improving Academic Standards: Devising special coaching classes, career guidance, admissions competitions and schemes to address educational backwardness to improve the quality of education of children.
Mid-day Meal Scheme: To monitor the quality and distribution of mid-day meals provided in schools.
Prevent Drop-out: To take mass interventions to eliminate the situation of children dropping out of school.
3. Relationship with School Level Committees
This Panchayat Level Education Committee coordinates the activities of the PTA and SMC (School Management Committee) in each school. Major needs that schools cannot solve on their own (for example, construction of new buildings, large fund requirements) are included in the Panchayat plans through this committee.