Principals of state-sponsored schools have been asked to create WhatsApp groups to facilitate sharing of academic information.

District education officer (DEO) Rajnikant Verma gave the order at a meeting of over 100 government-run cradles at Balkrishna High School in Upper Bazaar on Tuesday.

“Creating WhatsApp groups and sharing information is a must for academic excellence at all government schools. Immediate steps in this direction should be taken. Teachers should also use school websites for sharing information,” Verma said, adding that it will help in all-round development of students.

The district education officer has also asked principals to play a proactive role in making Ranchi a model district in terms of educational activities.

Stressing on improvement of matriculation and intermediate studies, he said principals should strive for a pass percentage of 100 by making students aware of model questions.

As many as 22 principals who could not show up for the meeting without prior information were served showcause notices by district education officer Verma.

Regional director of education Ashok Kumar Sharma, who was also present on the occasion, talked about financial discipline.

“Take approval of budgets once a year in the same manner budgets for the state is approved by the Assembly. Apart from this, be transparent while spending money,” he said.

During the meeting it was decided that there would be two-day training for clerks on December 20 and 21, and those clerks who were posted in a school for 10 years would be transferred.

It was also decided that teachers would get their post-retirement benefits on the day of retirement.

A coaching-cum-counselling centre has been mooted at Balkrishna school so that students can be provided assistance free of cost. A retired teacher, Srimohan Singh, will act as co-ordinator of the centre.