Odisha Govt Under Attack For Move To Engage Teachers On Annual Contract; Regular Posting Sought

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government came under stinging attack from many quarters including political parties, teaching community and parents of students on Wednesday for deciding to engage 20,000 Junior Teachers (Schematic) on annual agreement basis,

A day after the School & Mass Education Department issued new guidelines for engagement of Junior Teachers (Schematic) through online computer-based test (CBT), they lashed out at the government accusing it of acting against its announcement to abolish contractual recruitment in the state.

Strongly opposing the appointment of Zilla Parishad primacy teachers, Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangha (OAM) Chairman Basudev Bhatta demanded immediate steps for regular posting of primary teachers with best facilities to ensure quality education from Class I to VIII.

Stating that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced abolition of contractual appointment on his birthday in October last year, he said the department has reversed the CM’s promise.

As per the new guidelines, all the functions of elementary education will be transferred in phases to Zilla Parishad and other Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), he said, adding that the move seems to be a pre-poll stunt detrimental to the education system.

Claiming that no primary teachers have been appointed since 2016 in the state, he said the government must take steps for regular appointment of teachers for in the interest of students.

Slamming the government in same vein, Primary School Teachers’ Association accused the state government of exploiting educated youths by adopting contractual appointment.

Stating that more than 70,000 posts of teachers are lying vacant in primary schools in the state, the Association demanded immediate steps to undertake regular appointment and give up engagement of schematic teachers.

Opposition political parties also lashed out at the state government for its move to engage Junior Teachers (Schematic) terming it as a political gimmick ahead of elections.

Senior Congress leader and MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said such engagement is only for election and sought to know as to why the government is not making direct recruitment.

Claiming that over 98,000 teachers’ posts are lying vacant, he said the state government is planning to engage 20,000 junior teachers for one year with next elections in mind. Once the elections are over, they will be disengaged, he claimed.

BJP leader Surath Biswal said the government had earlier claimed that it had abolished the ad-hoc system by regularising all employees, but now it is going to engage teachers on agreement basis.

Speaking on the issue, School and Mass Education Minister Sudam Marndi said it is a policy decision and the government will implement it.

School and Mass Education Secretary Aswathy S said all the details are in the resolution and the recruitment will be through schematic selection under the Samagra Shiksha. The government has also relaxed the norms for recruitment under Samarg Sikhasha to regularise them, she said.