Gujarat education department to seek legal opinion for appointment of primary and secondary school teachers

Updated on: Monday, June 03, 2013

ALREADY reeling under faculty crunch, appointment of 8,800 primary teachers (vidyasahayaks) and nearly 1,000 secondary school heads is hanging fire for almost a year now. Though after the recent observation of the Supreme Court, the state education department assures of filling these posts at the earliest, it will entirely depend on the legal opinion the department aims to seek for the matter.

When contacted the Principal Secretary (Education) AM Tiwari said, "One thing followed by another led to stalling of these appointments. Also, as the matter stood sub judice, the department could hardly proceed for filling these posts. Now, we hope to fill these vacancies at the earliest as there is some clarity and the department has decided to seek legal opinion and take action accordingly."

Speaking on the controversial vidyasahayak issue that was once again raised after strong observations made by the apex court, Tiwari said, "The discussion went altogether to some other tangent. It was entirely in reference to a different issue and not made particularly against Gujarat but in reference to another state. The confusion was resolved when the court was made assured that the appointments are done completely in a transparent manner and as per set rules and standards."

Primary school teachers are recruited as vidyasahayaks for five years and after that they are main-streamed as primary teachers. In the last 12 years, the department claims to have upgraded as many as 85,000 vidyasahayaks into regular teachers' salary slab.

It is said that the department will release an advertisement again for filling up these posts. One of the main reasons for stalling these appointments was advertisement released by the department in the month of October last year (after the eligibility test was conducted). With the code of conduct in the wake of assembly elections, this was objected in the High Court.

Similarly, on the surplus teachers issue, he assured that the matter is taken on priority. "There were certain issues between the education department and municipal corporations concerning salaries of these surplus teachers. This has been settled now and we would be able to adjust all," he said.

Gujarat education department to seek legal opinion for appointment of primary and secondary school teachers

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