No 'pol posting' in Edn Dept: Radheshyam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2018: Education Minister Th Radheshyam has stated that there is no such thing as political posting/transfer in School Education Department.

He said that teachers posted at far off places are brought back under compelling circumstances such as health problems at the recommendation of the elected Members through the School Education Director.

Clarifying to policy cut motions raised by Opposition Members in the course of discussing a demand pertaining to School Education Department in the State Assembly today, Radheshyam said that the hardly one-year old Government has been focusing most of its energy and time in rectifying lapses and making up shortfalls.

"Transfers and postings have never been effected based on political considerations and I don't have any undue interest in such matters", Radheshyam clarified.

At present, there are 2980 Government schools in the State including 585 aided schools.

The total number of sanctioned posts for Government teachers is 20618.Out of the total sanctioned posts, 5626 posts are lying vacant.

No Graduate Teacher has been appointed since 2007 and no Primary Teacher since 2011.On account of the vacant posts of teachers, transfer of teachers often lead to shortage of teachers at the parent schools and teachers posted in interior areas of hill districts often encounter language problems.

There is acute shortage of Science teachers in hill areas and the Education Department has been facing a difficult situation.

Nonetheless, due to maximum efforts invested by the Government and cooperation extended by elected Members who even went to the extent of hiring private teachers, parents' confidence in Government schools has been rising and the number of students enrolled in Government schools has been increasing.

The Government has been considering filling up the vacant posts of teachers.

A list of schools where there are teachers but no students and vice versa has been distributed to Members of the House seeking their suggestion on how to solve the problem; Additional amount has been incorporated in the State budget for 2018-19 in order to improve infrastructure of Government schools.

There are many aided schools which have little or no students.

All these schools would be identified and necessary action would be initiated soon, said the Education Minister.

The existing system of utilising teachers at official works other than teaching can be done away with when the vacant posts of teachers are filled up, he exuded confidence.

In spite of all the difficulties, the draft transfer policy has now reached its final stage.

At the same time, the Government has been considering about framing an education policy.

The Government is also studying about setting up middle schools in hill districts, Radheshyam informed the House.

Later the House passed four separate demands for grants amounting to Rs 202,35,127,000 including Rs 1435,77,25,000 for Education, Rs 260,54,32,000 for Agriculture, Rs 231,50,73,000 for Water Resources and Rs 95,68,97,000 for Panchayat.

The demands for grants were tabled by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Y Joykumar and Opposition Members Th Lokeshwar, Md Abdul Nasir, Kh Joykisan, Md Fazur Rahim, RK Imo, Alfred Kanngam Arthur, AK Mirabai and K Meghachandra took part in discussing the demands.

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