Selection norms for foreign exposure trip tweaked again, teachers cry foul

The Department of Higher Education has changed the selection criteria for the upcoming foreign exposure tour for government school teachers and principals, leading to teachers questioning the last-minute change.

According to the teachers, the change has been made after the shortlisted candidates had submitted their documents required for the visa with the department. “Sending teachers on a foreign exposure visit is an excellent step taken by the government, but such changes at the last minute are bound to raise suspicion,” said Surinder Pundir, president, School Lecturers’ Association, Sirmaur. “The Directorate of Elementary Education has not changed the fixed criteria even once and has selected the teachers. Why, then, is the Directorate of Higher Education changing it repeatedly? It’s the third time that the criteria has been changed,” claimed Pundir.

Amarjeet Sharma, Director, Higher Education, said the criteria had to be changed as “we did not get the quality teachers we were looking for” under the previous criteria.

In the new criteria released by the Directorate of Higher Education, teachers are objecting to reduction in the time left for retirement of the aspirants, which has been reduced to one year or more from three years or more. “A teacher left with just one year of service will have little time to implement his learning from the exposure tour,” said Virender Chauhan, president, Government Teachers Union.

The other point that the teachers are objecting to is increase in the marks for postings in hard and tribal areas. “The teacher posted in his or her home district in tribal and hard area was given two marks in the previous criteria regardless of the tenure. Now, it has been increased to five marks. It’s a big jump as the total marks are just 20. Teachers serving in other areas will find it impossible to bridge this gap,” said Chauhan.

The director said the changes in the superannuation period had been made to ensure that a teacher doing good work is not left unrewarded just because he or she is due to retire shortly. “Also, we want to give more representation to teachers working in tribal and hard areas,” he said.

The state government started sending teachers on foreign exposure from last year. While the selection criteria is fixed by the government, the tour is funded by Samagra Shiksha.