Excess teachers’ reassignment process begins in city

Nagpur: The local education department started the process of reassignment of excess teachers from secondary schools by organizing a special camp today. Though the process is online, it does require the teacher concerned to be present so that education officials can show on screen the vacant posts available. This transparency eliminates doubts and teachers, according to seniority, can take their pick. The process should wrap up by this weekend.

Teachers are classified as excess based on the Pupil-teacher Ratio (PTR) formula. For Std I-V, the PTR is 60:2, 61:3, 91: 4 and 121: 4. For Std VI-VIII, it starts from 35:1 and then it multiplies accordingly. The way it works is that all such teachers are put on a surplus list according to their seniority and the senior most teacher gets the first choice from pool of available vacant posts within the district.

For those lower down the pecking order, there might not be any vacant posts remaining. Such teachers can be transferred outside Nagpur district. The teachers shortlisted according to the survey has to be present mandatorily for the convention. Those who fail to appear for the convention will not be entertained once the board decides for the transfer the respective teacher. The respective teacher will then have to abide by the order given by the board.

The first day was scheduled for Hindi medium schools. Nago Ganar, MLC from teachers constituency said that the decision for reassignment might be proper according to the rules stated but obviously it always creates tension specially when teachers have to be transferred to another taluka or event district."

Puja Choudhari, senior teacher at Bhartiya Mahila Vidyalaya said "Although 100% adjustment for teachers is not there still overall it is a fair process. Transfers always affect teachers as new school and new environment plays a major role when the grade pay is same."

Academicians feel it is unfair to senior teachers. Razia Sultana, principal of Anjuman Junior College said "Dividing the teachers according to the changed educational policy has created a disturbance in management of the teaching staff. Teaching is not an easy task. The senior most teachers are also considered in surplus list which is unjust."

Dilip Bose, secretary of Headmasters Charitable Association mentions that the surplus teachers list is not proper and department has not issued any notice or notification letter to the respective schools. "All the contact has been ensured through social media due to which many teachers are still unaware of this process. Also, the teaching staff recruited for the academic year of 2016-2017 is not considered eligible for approval or second choice in regard with the transfer," said Bose.