Imphal, February 06: Following the recent decision of the State Cabinet to rationalise the transfer and posting of school teachers to neutralise the problem of shortage of teachers in some cases and excess of teachers in some schools, a large number of teachers will be transferred within the next few days.

Making the decision of the Government clear, Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa said that there will be no question of favouritism in effecting the transfer and posting of teachers.

Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the inauguration function of a gallery of the lawn tennis court at Officers' Club in memory of Lungnila Elizabeth at Lamphel today, Francis said that the rationalisation process of teachers posting and transfer will be implemented soon and added that there will be no question of any favouritism.

As 60 to 70 percent of the teachers teaching from the primary level to the high school level are all women, this factor will be taken into consideration while implementing the rationalisation process, said the Minister.

However if the need arises, the women teachers will also be posted to the hill districts.

Within the next two/three days a total of 1284 teachers will be given new place of postings, said the Minister and added that the Government will not entertain any pleas from the side of the teachers not to transfer them.

Strict action will also be initiated against those who have resorted to appointing proxy teachers in the far flung places, Ngajokpa asserted.

Mention may be made here that there are some schools in Manipur where the number of teachers outstrip the strength of students while some schools have been facing acute shortage of teachers.

Some teachers have also never been transferred to the hills in their entire service career.

On the other hand there are some teachers who have been posted only in the hills ever since they joined service.

Though a teachers' body had dubbed the decision of the Cabinet to rationalise the transfer and posting of teachers as another means to victimise the teachers, student bodies including the DESAM had fully supported the decision of the Cabinet.

On the recent Cabinet decision to down grade 15 higher secondary schools to high schools, the Education Minister said that it was unfortunate but needed.

Elaborating, Ngajokpa said that there were some schools which did not have more than two students but had a large number of teachers and in some cases, some of these schools could not even produce a successful candidate in the HSSLC exam.

It was against this background that 15 higher secondary schools have been downgraded, he said.

On the current outcry raised over the non availability of text books for Class VI, VII and VIII, the Minister said that efforts have been taken up on a war footing to ensure that all the English medium text books hit the book shelves by Feb 15.Francis admitted that the BSEM has not been able to produce the text books on time and expressed his sincere regret over it.

On the restrictions imposed on Mission schools in opening the new session by a student body, the Minister appealed to all concerned not to put any hurdles in the field of education.

Comment