Education Dept discontinues online transfer policy

Harinder Singh Khaira

Patiala, June 22

Even though Chief Minister  Capt Amarinder Singh has approved an online transfer policy for schoolteachers, almost a month after the approval, the Education Department has discontinued it. The department has demanded hard copies of applications from the teachers for the transfers. 

Teacher unions have termed the decision a major setback. Aruna Chaudhary, Education Minister, Punjab, is already under fire as the department has transferred around 300 teachers before inviting applications.

The transfers were done on the basis of merit of request of applicants and the preference was given to handicapped, widow and unmarried women teachers. However, the department has ordered the transfer of these teachers, terming it public interest.

Notably, the CM had claimed that besides the shifting of schoolteachers, the online system would make the transfer process transparent. Concurring with the demand of teachers, Capt Amarinder Singh had also suggested the posting of teachers in their villages or nearby areas for enabling the discharge of their duties with dedication and honesty.

Harpal Singh Teja, leader of the Adhiapak Dal Punjab, said, “The Akali-BJP government had not adopted any firm policy for the transfer of schoolteachers and now the Congress government is going the same route.”

He said they urged the government to draft a concrete transfer policy for schoolteachers to bring in much-needed transparency.

Meanwhile, Director, Public Instructions (Secondary Education), Sukhdev Singh, said due to some technical issues, they had subdued the online system for transfers.

“Snags in the online system had wasted time and an urgent need of teachers in some schools forced us to adopt the offline transfer process,” the DPI said.