Siliguri (West Bengal): The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which is leading a movement for a separate state in North West Bengal, on March 17, said it is conducting a survey in all schools in the hills to frame an education policy for the 'future' state.

"We are surveying these institutions to know the quality of education being imparted, number of permanent and part-time teachers and infrastructure standards so that we can work on the loopholes and formulate a new education policy for the future Gorkhaland," Vishan Roka, spokesperson of GJM's teacher's wing - Janamukti Teachers' Association (JTA) - said here.

There are about 200 secondary schools in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling district. Roka said forms have been sent to the schools to be filled up and submitted within 15 days.

"The JTA has started sending relevant forms to the schools since Saturday. Most institutions in the urban areas have been covered. However, the ones in remote areas are still left.

"The schools have been asked to submit the filled up forms within 15 days (starting from the day they receive the forms). We are also collecting data from the district inspector (schools) and the Gorkha Hill Council," Roka said.

Nirmal Pradhan, general secretary of JTA (Kurseong) said, "Educational standards in the hills have never been very high. In addition, it is deteriorating with every passing day. The number of school dropouts is increasing and most students are becoming drug addicts. Besides, a large number of schools are not registered." IANS