The ‘Inside Districts’ series launched in April was a one-of-its-kind attempt to capture the experiences of district and Block-level officials, panchayat functionaries and frontline workers, on their challenges and best practices. Recently, we went back to some interviewees to understand how their situation has changed. Among them was a Panchayat Elementary Education Officer (PEEO) in Rajasthan.

The interview was originally conducted in Hindi on 19 May 2020, and has been translated.

Q: How has the situation changed post lockdown 3 in the area you are responsible for?

PEEO: People have learnt to live with Corona now. They are aware. They know that they have to follow the norms of social distancing. They are taking precautions despite the fact that we are in the green zone. [As on 19 May]

Q: What are teachers telling you with reference to their challenges? What are your challenges?

PEEO: The teachers want those teachers to be appointed to duty now who have not worked before. It is unbelievable that we have still not received the basic things like masks and sanitisers!

The settlements in this village are quite far from each other and people are regularly coming from outside. It is difficult to track these people.

Q: How has children’s school education been impacted in your area? 

PEEO: There has been a huge impact on children’s education. Government has started the ‘Smile Project’ as per which we send educational material on the WhatsApp group of parents. Parents and children are also free to ask doubts on that group. However, there are very few people in this village who have mobile phones and access to the internet. Even if they have access, they are not aware enough to supervise their child’s education. The government has also started a radio programme called ‘Shikshavani’.

Q: How has your work changed with the lifting up of the lockdown and easing of restrictions? Is your primary focus still on COVID-19 tasks or are you back to routine work?

PEEO: With the easing of lockdown and restrictions, my work has increased. Since markets have opened up now, people tend to be less careful. So, my efforts towards stopping the spread of the virus have only increased.

The post of the PEEO is specific to Rajasthan, and was created in three phases between 2015-16 and 2017-18, as part of the state’s efforts to improve the quality of education and decentralise governance. 

Since 2014, Rajasthan has been consolidating smaller schools with low enrolment with larger schools for efficient management of human and fiscal resources. Further, they launched a new programme for Adarsh School (Ideal School) in all 9,894 Gram Panchayats, either from grades 1-10 or 1-12. PEEOs are principals of these Adarsh schools and their main function is to oversee the delivery of elementary education including monitoring and supervising teachers and school-related activities for elementary schools within a Gram Panchayat*. They also have to manage administrative tasks and maintain records for schools in the panchayat. PEEOs report to Block Elementary Education Officers (BEEOs) who have the dual charge of the education department as well as Samagra Shiksha’s project responsibilities at the Block level. 

To learn more about the school consolidation in Rajasthan, read our report.