Teachers oppose new rules for recruitment in Bihar

PATNA: Several organizations and associations are upset over the new rules for the appointment of teachers in government schools by a commission to be constituted soon. Teachers will now be appointed after clearing examinations.
Teachers burned the effigies of leaders and copies of the new rules and raised anti-government slogans in many districts. They demanded rollback of the new rules or else they will hold massive protests across the state.
Anand Mishra, secretary of Parivartankari Prarambhik Shikshak Sangh, said the government has cheated lakhs of teachers, who are working in government schools since 2006. "Instead of giving niyojit teachers and STET/CTET qualified teachers the status of state employee, the government made a separate cadre. It is injustice and we will protest against it," he said.
Abhishek Kumar, former spokesperson of Bihar State Secondary Teachers' Association, said, "The state should give equal pay for equal work and same service conditions as permanent teachers of government schools. Many teachers, whether contractual or appointed through panchayati raj institutions or qualified in state-level exams, have been waiting for appointment rules. Now, the government has decided to take another exam, when people are reaching their retirement age or have served for 10-20 years," he said.
He added: "Besides, there is no clarity about service conditions and payscale under the new rules. But the government has made it clear that they will not get what the permanent teachers used to get."
Brajnandan Sharma, president of Bihar State Primary Teachers' Association, said the government has bluffed the teachers. "By creating another cadre, they are creating more disparity among teachers. Many of them are waiting for appointment for years and qualified several exams conducted by the government. We will organize a protest across the state and force the government to make changes in the recruitment rules," he told TOI.
A senior official of education department said many teachers' bodies have showed their displeasure and sent letters to the department against the new rules.