Assam: Lens on teachers with ‘other jobs’

GUWAHATI: The Assam education department has readied the first list of government schoolteachers who are engaged as Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) agents and other licensed professions without authorisation.
Speaking to mediapersons in Dispur on Thursday, state education minister Ranoj Pegu said the teachers indulging in other professions by violating the service rules will face action.
“Action will definitely be taken. But we are screening the teachers who are engaged in other professions, apart from teaching, such as LIC agents, journalists or others. The government is bound to take action against the activities that are not allowed under service rules,” said Pegu.
Director of secondary education, Mamata Hojai, in a letter to the district inspector of schools on June 18, said departmental proceedings have been initiated against 11 secondary schoolteachers for being engaged as LIC agents under Rangia branch of LICI in Kamrup district. These teachers have been charged with violation of Rule 12 of the Assam Service (Conduct) Rules, 1965, she added.
“Now, all the inspectors of school are hereby directed to submit the list of teaching and non-teaching staff of secondary schools under their jurisdiction, who are also found to be working as an agent of LIC/news reporter in print or electronic media and any other licensed profession to the undersigned within 07 (seven) days without fail,” read the letter.
After the Class X results were announced earlier this month, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma vented his anger on the teachers who have been working as LIC agents or other jobs, pushing teaching to the backseat.
Pegu said the government is likely to give incentives to schools whose students’ performances have improved. “Around 90% students in nearly 500 government schools have cleared Class X board exams this year. Some even produced cent per cent results,” he said.