Teacher unions oppose bulk transfer orders

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, July 21

While the government teachers since long has been demanding reforms in the transfer policy, the release of transfer orders of over 2,400 teachers in Punjab on Thursday have baffled the teachers’ union who said, “Transfers were against the transfer policy 2018, and no application by teachers were filed nor there was any information regarding the transfers on the portal."

The instructions issued by the Education Department on Friday transferred the school staff including lecturers, master cadre, headmasters, primary teachers, principals and computer faculty to report at the new stations within two days.

As many as 28 principals, 33 computer faculty, 1,001 primary teachers, 23 headmasters, 1,068 master cadre and 353 lecturers have been transferred.

Education Minister Om Prakash Soni, said, “We have transferred teachers against vacant posts, so that resources can be better optimised. The transfers have been done as per the policy, while the demands of the union are on hold, which would be decided later”.

He said, the unions instead of interfering in the work of the Education Department should focus towards teaching and improve state results.

Activist of “Sarkari School Sikhya Bachao Manch”, Harjinderpal Singh Pannu, said, “We have been protesting and demanding from the state government to formulate a transfer policy by considering the suggestion of the teachers. The policy was to be framed in a way that a deserving candidate gets the priority in transfers without anyone’s influence,”

“We were told that forms would be given to teachers for transfer. However, we did not receive any form or official notice for transfers,” he added.

“We were waiting to apply for the transfers and this happened. It was proposed that transfers should be made at the start of the session and only special cases would be dealt in mid-session, he said.

“These 2,400 transfers are under the influence of those in power, while no guidelines mentioned in the policy have been followed, maximum number of teachers in the list are transferred to city areas leaving rural schools vacant.” he alleged

Another teacher, Seema Rani, from Fazilka said she was waiting for her transfer for the last 3-4 years on the genuine grounds that my husband was passed away and she was the only caretaker of two kids in Jalandhar.

She said, “She is currently posted in Fazilka and despite requesting the department again for the transfer, her application was not approved, while many teachers within two km of distance have been transferred.”

Nishant Kumar, a teacher from Kapurthala, said, “It’s for the first time in Punjab that such bulk transfers, that too, without any prior notification, has taken place. The date used to be announced by the state government and all employees were given a chance to apply.”

“Those who want a transfer keep asking when the transfers will open. The procedure of transfer is questionable this time, as it has been done discreetly. There are teachers, who travel for 60 to 80 km every day and needed transfers.”

Quote:

“We have transferred teachers against vacant posts, so that resources can be better optimised. The transfers have been done as per the policy, while the demands of the union are on hold, which will be decided later.”

Om Prakash Soni, Education Minister