Section 56 in Tamil Nadu Educational Inspection Code
56. Keeping up high standard of administrative efficiency.
- Divisional Inspectors and District Educational Officers are not intended to discharge the largely routine duties of inspection of subordinate officers and of transmitting reports received from the subordinate officers. They should conceive of their responsibilities as being far more comprehensive since the Director has to rely heavily on their judgment in dealing with the many contentions that cases come up for a decision. It is the first duty of any Divisional Inspector or District Educational Officer to know his division or district well, which means not only a correct appraisement of the work of District Educational Officers and Deputy Inspectors, their shortcomings and weak points, but also of the other official and non-officials such as Presidents of Local Boards. Special Officers, Chairman and members of the Legislature, etc., with whom the departmental officers have to deal. Both courtesy and expediency require that the Divisional Inspector and District Educational Officers, should call on the District Collectors, District Board Presidents and such other important local officials in the course of their tours and discuss the problems of the district. Much valuable information can be gained only by such informal talks.In every district, there will be a few trouble spots where the issues are clouded by factions and rivalries and a Divisional Inspector or a District Educational Officer is expected to make himself fully acquainted with all the aspects of the problem and be able to approach it in an objective and impersonal manner. Some of the subordinate officers sometimes take sides or express perverse views; and in all these cases it is expected that Divisional Inspectors and District Educational Officers would exercise a corrective influence and help to present a true picture to the Director. For this reason, some of the more important complaints should be enquired into by the Divisional Inspector himself and not entrusted even to the District Educational Officer. Even when a District Educational Officer has been instructed to conduct an investigation by the Director, the Divisional Inspector is at liberty to take up the investigation himself should be consider it desirable.Besides avoiding delay of all kinds, scrupulous attention should also be paid to the computation of statistical data in the subordinate offices. All officers should realise the great importance of statistics and endeavour to keep full data of the institutions under their control readily available. No officer whether it is a Deputy Inspector, District Educational Officer or Divisional Inspector, can correctly assess the progress in the jurisdiction absence of correct particulars. Likewise, it is not possible to formulate any plans for improvement at any level in the absence of correct data. The importance of correct statistical information cannot be over-emphasized in the context of the several comprehensive schemes of reform in the field of education.Both Divisional Inspectors and District Educational Officers (and in' some measure even Deputy Inspectors) have an important part to play in the establishment and development of schools, in securing public support and co-operation for new schemes, in improving attendance and enrolment, in the speed of literacy in organising play festivals, exhibitions, etc. There is no need to enumerate all the items of work which an active and sympathetic officer can make in this constructive field and they are in some respects, a true measure of an officer's worth. The good will that an officer can build up in his jurisdiction by his sympathy and understanding is more than a personal achievement as it raises the prestige of the Department and it is not therefore enough if an officer meticulously discharges the duties enjoyed on him under the different codes, as such work will still be negative in character. It may win the respect but not the public.Considerable care should be exercised also in the planning of the tours. As far as possible, institutions about which complaints have been received should receive a visit. It will also be helpful if in the course of the visit to Local Board and Municipal Secondary Schools, the work of the Senior Assistants whose names are or likely to be included in the panel for promotion as Headmasters is watched.The Divisional Inspectors and District Educational Officers should be very vigilant in the matter of keeping up high administrative efficiency. They should not hesitate to recommend for appropriate disciplinary action from a mere transfer to reversion, of officers for continued indifference or neglect of their duties. At the same time, work should be readily, and even generously recognized. In the selection of officers for remunerative work, in transfers for personal or domestic reasons, and promotions, the conscientious discharge of duties by an officer shall receive due consideration.
