More so when the tables are being arranged for someone like the district education officer carrying the state government's message for bringing about education reforms in schools; and also emphasising on aspects like housekeeping in the same breath.

That's exactly what the Surat District Education Officer discovered during his sudden visit to I P Mission Girls' High School. Besides inspection, the idea was to launch the state government's project that aims to bring about improvement in the showing of schools faring badly in the SSC examinations.

The incident only goes to show what a gigantic task the DEOs all over the state have at hands. Gujarat Secondary Education Board has classified schools into nine categories after taking into account their SSC results of the last three years.

While schools whose average pass percentage was more than 91 have been given the `A+' grade; schools with result between 70 and 90 per cent have got `A'. At the lower end are `X' category schools whose result is less than 20 per cent and the dubious `Z' category has been reserved for schools from where no student could pass out.

The board has decided to concentrate on schools with average result of less than 20 per cent. Surat, which surprised everyone when its students pocketed the highest honours in the board examinations in quick succession, has to its credit another first.

On one end, there are 136 schools (out of 298 when the classification was done) whose results are below 40 per cent and at the other extreme is Lourde's High School that has the best showing in Gujarat. The board has identified three subjects; mathematics, science and social science ; as bugbear that do most students in.

But it has decided not to stop only at educational reforms but introduce education management, administration and extra curricular activities in its ambit for overall personality development of the student, says Surat DEO Natvarsinh Parmar. Special emphasis will be laid on inculcating a sense of discipline among students. ``Quite a tall order, though,'' admits the DEO, who as a first step, identified the weak schools to begin the programme.

The visit to I P Mission was followed by a meeting he had with principals of 37 schools, who have reported less than 20 pass percentage. The government already has a scheme that cuts maintenance grants of schools who fare poorly.

But the measure has hardly had any success. Parmar says the project will first target teachers, most of whom while away their time. ``A school's character is reflected in the way in which students say prayers, wish their teachers and speak on the campus. We will try to change that by citing examples from renowned schools''.

Say Principals of I P Mission School (boys) and (girls) C S Dantalia and V V Christie ``students patronising our schools come from such background that such programmes are likely to fall flat on their face''. Adds Christie ``when we talk of examination half of students don't report''.