RMSA Teacher Recruitment - Need for reviewing selection process

Aya A Shimray *

It gave a glimmer of hope to the hundreds of financially poor educated un-employed when for a record, the State Government on April 7, 2011 went to notify a fair and transparent 'bribe-free' recruitment drive for the post of 536 Graduate Teachers under RMSA with selection criteria 'initially' mulled to be purely based on academic records, with graduation plus B.Ed degree set as the benchmark for eligibility criteria for applying to the posts.

In a State where even for a post of a sweeper, one has to grease the palms of people in the power corridor by shelling out a hefty undercover amount of 2-3 lakhs rupees, the prospect of getting such rare opportunity gave an excited and anxious moments. Such enthusiasm was best witnessed when thousands of its educated unemployed citizens made a bee-line at the congested RMSA compound to get an application form.

As it turned out, a total no of 13,378 desperate, educated un-employed candidates applied for the posts. However, when the concerned department came out with the list of eligible candidates selected for facing oral interview, the search for the most eligible candidates narrowed down to a nadir 3059 candidates.

Nobody for sure knows the yardstick the concerned department employed to pick these candidates neither do we know whether it was strictly based on the prescribed norms, free of nepotism and discrepancies. However, while appreciating such unique and fair initiative by the Ibobi-led Govt, it is not without raising many an eyebrows, for sure. There are, apparently some loopholes in the recruitment system, beside the selection norms.

Firstly, as also being raised by DESAM, the selection on the basis of academic marks can have 'un-anticipated' outcomes, much in contrary to what is being perceived as a beautiful idea. It was 'initially' declared that the selection would strictly be on the basis of allotting 85 score points for academic marks and 15 for interview. However, this official notification was superseded by a Cabinet decision that only 5 points would be allotted for interview. As if too impressed with their novel idea of such recruitment, the Cabinet finally sealed even the 5 marks allotted for interview in their search for an ideal school teacher.

The Government certainly cannot afford to make the mistake of equating academic performance of a candidate to that of physical proficiency in the selection of VDF personnel. An ability to run faster, jump higher, make more 'push-ups' is considered for selection to VDF. Such ability would help them to catch a running thief or make a swift escape from bullets but contributes little in handling the law and order situation. They have to have the ability to communicate, a rational, logical mindset to deal with under any given situation.

Likewise, an ideal teacher isn't necessarily someone who possesses glittering academic scores alone. Man-shaping process is more than just that. It's a wholesome of writing and communication skills, aptitude and language proficiency, sound personality and a humane, compassionate heart and above all a strong commitment and devotion that describes the attributes of an ideal teacher.

Isn't it too far-fetched an idea to discard all these attributes and recruit teachers only on academic records? Aren't we done with the existing system where Government teachers posted in the Hills vice-versa come to their posted schools just once in their whole service life-time only to submit their joining report and meet the school cashier once a month for drawing salary? Surely, this bane probably could have prompted the Government to come out with this new system of recruitment.

But how best can it usher in change by heavily relying on academic score of a candidate for the job of mentoring the future of our students remain an unanswered question. Certainly, for any academically brilliant, deserving students who are too poor to exchange any eligible post for a hefty amount in a corrupt State like Manipur, the recruitment system is far more preferred than the usual name-sake 'written tests' and 'DPCs' where a Minister's recommendation is the only ultimate ticket to any Governmental jobs.

However, given the immense need to drastically overhaul present pathetic educational scenario in the State, there is grave necessity to recruit dedicated teachers, not just a teacher with good academics. A teacher with a dedicated long-serving experience in any private schools would definitely teach better and find acceptance among students than any high grade MAs.

The Government needs to seriously rethink over the selection process of the candidates by reviewing its earlier decision to do away with allotting scores for oral interview. It may be painstakingly an exhaustive effort but it shall definitely churn out the best search results for ideal teachers if the interview sessions are stretched up, no matter if it take days or perhaps months in order to draw out/explore the potent qualities of each candidate.

Secondly, in fact, this could only be the first instance in the country where a young high-school 'drop-out' who after repeated failure to pass any recognised board exams, goes to appear finish matriculation and pre-university from NIOS and BEd correspondence course from a hardly heard distance university, would have the brighter chance of being selected for the post of village school teacher, beating all the deserving regular finishers from recognised boards, courtesy the fat marks allotted by these institutes.

Marks obtained from institutes like NIOS, CBSE and other distance universities can never be equated with that of BSEM, COHSEM, NEHU or other recognised boards/universities. Almost all the State natives working elsewhere in the cities who are in call-centres, beauty parlours and spas, showrooms etc are pursuing different courses including BEd from different distance universities. So, it wouldn't be a matter of surprise if they are given due preference over other very deserving candidates with long teaching experiences just because their academic performance was so impressive.

Thirdly, since possessing BEd degrees is considered as eligibility criteria, it is taken into confidence that all the 3059 candidates considered 'eligible' possess BEd degrees. However, in a small State like Manipur, it is hard to chew in the fact that there are more than say even a thousand BEd degree holders. As far as we go by the number, there are 3-4 institutes which confer BEd degree in the State.

The DM College of Teachers' Education with a limited intake confers one year BEd degree, though a majority of them are in-service Govt teachers. A negligible few pursue BEd from Imphal centre of IGNOU, another few in other colleges in the State and other cities. The magic no of 3059 graduates from the State possibly couldn't have finished BEd degree just in an overnight.

It might just be a matter of days before the department concerned comes out with detailed interview notice. However, with nothing sticking to what was 'initially' planned, it not only appears that there is no permanence of policies and strictures at Ibobi's secretariat but has also raised doubt about its consistencies, commitment and will to deliver good. Or perhaps, is it just a political gimmick of the SPF Government on the eve of the impending State general election?