This write up is in reference to recent statement of Shri . Yitachu, Minister of School Education that appeared in Nagaland Post on June 9, 2016. Setting deadline as June 30, 2016 for substitute keeping teachers to either resign or be dismissed from service is a strong message. Everyone keeping fingers crossed. All intellectuals and NGOs eyeing on how the show will show up.
While appreciating the bold move towards streamlining Education department and improving academic result in government-run schools, there is a scare whether or not this declaration would turn out to be practical.
I’m self employed and not into government service but as a concern citizen, let me point out some area of concern.
A good number of proxy teachers are wives and children of UGs and high ranking Government officers. Will the Minister stand true to his word and not bow down to pressure?
Many teachers known to us are attached with SDEO offices, DEO offices and Directorate Kohima. Will the Minister release them for good? Earlier redeployment exercise was done under Dimapur district where attached teachers designated as office assistants were sent back to school but surprisingly many came back with political background. Will the present Minister do justice to his declaration?
It was also learnt that many officers did not issue release order to the attached teachers inspite of Government direction. The then DIS Dimapur Khetoshe Yeptho and the then DIS Niuland Kitoli Naje followed the order by detaching teachers for which they were criticized and crucified. Why should fearless and upright officers be placed on altar as sacrificial lamb comparing with cowards not executing official duty as controlling officer? Will the Minister initiate action against SDEOs, DEOs and Directorate if they ignore order this time?
How about teachers attached with many Parliamentary Secretaries and Ministers including Education Minister as PS? Are you all ready to release them in line with declaration? If NO, you have no right to axe others. Please streamline yourselves prior to streamlining others and come back with sword later.
The declaration would mean mockery if same yardstick is not to be applied to one and all. I remember some years back people implemented SSA project meant for Out of School Children, OOSC they called it. Some Dimapur based NGOs who implemented told me that this project aimed to run class for drop-out children and streamline them into regular school.
In tune with OOSC project, let us now focus on Out of School Teachers, OOST. Teachers are meant for classroom teaching but sadly many are scattered out of school. Hence, not only substitute-keeping teachers but all categories of teachers that falls under OOST should be taken into account for Honourable Minister’s deadline.
Kuholy Chishi
Dimapur
