Teacher cadre near empty, Mewat schools in dire straits

Sumedha Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Gurugram, March 2

The Elementary Education Department’s annual report has painted a grim picture in Mewat, one of the country’s most backward districts, suggesting a deficit of 3,000 teachers against the sanctioned posts of 6,858.

The 2019 report says there are no regular teachers in over 30 of district’s middle schools, just one regular teacher in 54 schools, no principal in 212 schools, a dismal 110:1 student-teacher ratio and the highest girl student dropout rate. Struggling with massive staff and resource crunch, Mewat is pinning hopes on virtually non-existent Mewat cadre of teachers, created by the previous Congress government.

Formed by then Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led government in 2012, the Mewat cadre had 5,000 sanctioned posts of teacher. Around 600 teachers were recruited under the cadre. While many got selected to the state cadre, others sought transfer or were deputed out of Mewat after change of government in 2014.

Though in 2018, the state government spelt out stringent policy keeping Mewat-cadre teachers away from transfers, sources claimed 70 per of them had moved out.

The matter has yet again been raised in the Vidhan Sabha. “The BJP government ruined the initiative. They have not made any regular appointment. I have sought their stand on Mewat cadre, but they are yet to reply,” said Congress’ Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed.

While department officials refused comment, a senior official said in blocks such as Punhana, a single guest teacher was taking three classes. “Regular teachers posted here do not stay for very long. We have taken stopgap measures to keep schools running,” he added.