22 teachers shifted against 2 vacancies in Punjab

Sameer Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, April 2

Raising a question mark over the “transparent transfer policy” of the state Education Department, as many as 22 teachers have recently been transferred to a government school in Bathinda against two vacant posts.

There are 30 sanctioned posts of teacher at Government Adarsh Primary School, Canal Colony, of which 28 are filled.

In a letter issued by the department, the principal has been instructed to make the 22 teachers join the school, leaving the authorities baffled. This comes at a time when the teacher-student ratio in government schools across the state is quite poor.

Resham Singh Khemuana, president, Democratic Tecahers’ Front, said: “On the one hand, the Education Minister and senior department officials make claims of a transparent online transfer policy, while on the other, shifting of 22 teachers to a single school when 28 are already serving there raises a serious question mark over its functioning.”

Bhupinder Singh Maisarkhana, union’s block president, said: “The transfer orders do not make logical sense. It reflects how teachers use political influence to get choice postings. There are schools where single or two teachers take all classes. While in this school, the department is sending 22 teachers against two vacancies.”

“The department must resolve the matter on a priority basis, else we will launch an agitation,” he said. A schoolteacher said: “We fear with surplus posting, the serving teachers may be made sacrificial lambs.”

DEO (Elementary) Shiv Pal Goyal said: “We have been discussing this matter with senior officials of the department and a decision would be taken after due consultation.”