Edu Dept to create pool of surplus staff

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 21

Longest serving teachers in a school that has surplus staff will be put in the common pool for transfer to schools facing staff shortage under the proposed rationalisation policy, which was taken up in the recent Cabinet meeting.

Taking students enrolled on March 31 as the base, total vacancies based on feedback from schools will be put on the website. Based on seniority of teachers on the surplus list, teachers will be given an option to choose posting of their choice.

The policy has pointed out massive teacher shortage in higher and senior secondary schools. As per the draft, there is a tendency of a large number of teachers to get themselves posted in middle schools so that they are not given any examination duties in board examination of classes X and XII.

There is proposal for just one cadre of teachers. Current posting of teachers on the basis of specific need-based recruitment, including Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Adarsh Schools, often make transfers difficult.

Underling the unequal distribution of teachers, official data showed that Mohali, near the state capital, had only 1 per cent staff vacancy against 45 per cent in the border district of Tarn Taran. At least 51 schools in Bathinda district do not have any mathematics or science teacher.

Besides, Amritsar has 23 per cent vacancy, Barnala 28 per cent Hoshiarpur 25 per cent, Jalandhar 29 per cent and Kapurthala 28 per cent.

The department has already issued directions to school principals to conduct at least 12 classes every month. The headmasters have been asked to take at least 15. The department plans to provide two teachers for primary schools with the strength of 60. An official communication dated February 19 has also asked the assistant directors, deputy directors and the district education officers to handle specified teaching assignments.

Unequal distribution of teachers 

• Underling the unequal distribution of teachers, official data showed that Mohali, near the state capital, had only 1% staff vacancy against 45% in the border district of Tarn Taran.
• At least 51 schools in Bathinda district do not have any mathematics or science teacher.
• Amritsar has 23% vacancy, Barnala 28%, Hoshiarpur 25%, Jalandhar 29% and Kapurthala 28%.