Aizawl, Dec 14 (UNI) The Mizoram government spends Rs 350 lakhs a year for training its teachers under the University of Cambridge International Examination to impart quality education, said education minister R Lalthangliana.

As many as thirtysix government teachers have finished diploma course, 67 in certificate course and another 91 in first certificate in English course under the UCIE. The minister handed over the certificates to these successful trainees today and inuagurated the second batch of the training.

Mr Lalthangliana said that the government has been spending Rs 350 lakhs every year, because it feels the programme was imperative for bringing quality education. The state known simply as a peaceful and high rate in literacy was not enough, quality education is the need of the hour for sustenance, he asserted.

Highlighting some of the government programmes for quality education, the minister pointed out that 70% of working primary teachers and another 50% in middle schools do not meet the required minimum qualification.

Considering all this the government was proposing to introduce voluntary retirement schemes for them, which, he added is being studied by the centre, the education minister added.

UNI