Our Correspondent
Kohima, August 22 (EMN): The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India has set March 2019 as a deadline for elementary teachers to avail training or face termination.
Informing about the standing order of the MHRD, Minister for School Education & Parliamentary Affairs, Tokheho Yepthomi has said that no untrained teachers will be allowed to continue in service beyond March 31, 2019, including government aided private schools/private schools. And this will be made mandatory, he informed.
The minister, as chief guest, was addressing the inaugural programme of the 2nd All Nagaland School Teachers Conference today at NBCC Convention Hall, Kohima.
“As per the Parliament Amendment Act section 23 (2) of Right to Education, all untrained elementary teachers have to be trained on or before March 2019. So if any teachers cannot undergo training, in line with the directives of MHRD, it will be better for those teachers to go on voluntary retirement in peace,” Yepthomi said.
The Lok Sabha had last month (July) passed a Bill that offers untrained teachers teaching in schools time till March 31, 2019, to acquire B. El. Ed (Bachelor of Elementary Education) or D. El. Ed. (Diploma in Elementary Education) qualifications to hold their jobs as teachers.
Following the passing of the bill, Union Minister for HRD, Prakash Javadekar had also made it clear that those teachers who did not complete/enroll for the training programme will lose their job by March 2019.
On the fate of the 1,379 Hindi teachers, Yepthomi said it has become a big issue as the MHRD has terminated the scheme from April 2017. He however added that the department is seriously examining how to absorb these teachers.
Taking the opportunity of addressing a host of teachers for the first time since he took charge as minister of School Education, Yepthomi called for a concerted effort from all the teachers, while he also implored them to perform their duties with sincerity, commitment.
“A lot of things need to be done in the department, more so a number of corrective measures are needed in the department. We can only achieve our aims and objectives if we all put our heads together in mutual understanding with a sense of belonging from top to bottom,” he asserted.
On one such concern, the minister stated the need to put an end to the practice of proxy teachers in various schools across the State.
“I am also of the opinion that all teachers, school education board and village councils shall have to undertake in writing not to keep the proxy teachers and also not to ask to be attached in various offices,” he said adding that “the teachers are appointed to teach the students and not to work as ministerial staff.”
Stating that almost all departments have officers and employees who prefer to retire only from Dimapur and Kohima, the minister came out strongly to do away with that practice.
On transfer and posting of employees in the department, he suggested that rules has to be framed so that no one blame s one another and further to do away with the undue advantage and privilege to some who are so selfish to stay in particular place only.
“Over the past few years, our State has compromised the interest of many other districts other than Dimapur and Kohima. So we have to seriously introspect and deliberate on the ailments of the department on this issue,” he said maintaining that “it is never too late to change for the good and it will be a task for you and me to uproot this system of nepotism.”
On HSLC and HSSLC results which he said was not satisfactory over the past years, he advised the teachers to not point fingers at one another, and instead work together in order to the strengthen the department and ensure a safe future for the Naga society.
On the poor results, he agreed upon that the shortage of Science and Mathematics teachers in many schools have been one of the main reasons behind it. The minister, however, gave assurance of providing science and math teachers in the next few months
Reminding the teachers that they had given their vows to perform their duties with conscience and dignity during the 1st All Nagaland Govt Teachers’ Conference, he urged them to uphold their commitment.
“Teachers and quality teaching influence the destiny of individuals, families, communities and nation. We have to dedicate and commit ourselves to serve the people,” he said.
The second day of the conference will be graced by Er Kropol Vitsu, parliamentary secretary for SCERT and Economics & Statistics as the chief guest.
