DEOs told to act against school panel members

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 17

Education Secretary Krishan Kumar has ordered all District Education Officers (DEOs) to take action against School Management Committees’ (SMCs) members who are opposing newly regularised teachers.

Kumar took this step after villagers, led by members of SMCs, forcibly closed schools where teachers, who accepted regularisation at Rs 15,300 per month, have joined.

Kumar said, “How can an SMC close a school without any reason? They have no right to do that. They are being misguided by protesting teachers. The Education Department is trying to make additional teachers available instead of replacement.”

The Education Secretary said, “If DEO finds the Chairman or any other member of the school management committee involved in closing a school, they will be removed following a due procedure.”

Meanwhile, the teachers said the Education Secretary was posting the newly appointed teachers at the stations where the protesting teachers were already serving. The teachers said dislocation of the protesting teachers from their current stations was an attempt by Kumar to thwart the ongoing protest. They added that to hold peaceful demonstration was their legitimate right.

Davinder Singh Punia, convener, Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, said, “These new postings are violations of the existing Rationalisation and Transfer Policy. How can the Education Secretary post a teacher if there is no post lying vacant at the particular school? He is trying to thwart our protest with these steps.”