In an attempt to provide relief to the Shiksha Mitras whose appointment as assistant teachers was quashed by High Court, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav declared that the state government has decided to move Supreme Court against this order and asked the para teachers not to disturb studies of children in primary schools.
“We will provide all possible help to the Shiksha Mitras. The Government has decided to move the court. The Shiksha Mitras have been asked not to disturb the studies of children and not to stage protests,” Yadav told reporters at the backdrop of a function held here on Monday.
A six member delegation of Siksha Mitra met Chief Minister at his official residence. The assurance was also given to them that the Government has made up its mind to challenge the High Court verdict against regularization of shiksha Mitra in Supreme Court.
He told the delegation that imparting education at primary students was crucial. The agitation was affecting the studies and Shiksha Mitras should ensure that no way these studies are affected.
“The High Court order has left a lot of you dejected. Do not lose heart as the government would do everything to ensure justice for them,” Chief minister said.
In its order a special three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices Dilip Gupta and Yashwant Verma quashed the amendments brought in the state education department’s rules through which the shiksha mitras were being regularized. The court was of the opinion that the appointment of Shiksha mitras was not against sanctioned posts. Also reservation rules were not followed. However, the court did not pass any opinion on the shikha mitras getting training for BTC (Basic Teaching Certificate).
Around a dozen petitions were filed against the Government order. The petitions were filed by those holding B Ed degree or have passed BTC or TET and they questioned as how intermediate pass students can be appointed as confirmed teachers.
Sources in the government told The Pioneer a delegation from Maharashtra led by Amitabh Mahate also attended the meeting between CM and Shiksha Mitras. The Shiksha Mitras were absorbed in government service in Maharashtra and Mahate advised Chief Minister as what steps Government should take to ensure future of Shiksha Mitras.
Shiksha mitras, who were supposed to have minimum qualification of intermediate, were appointed during the previous BSP rule through a government order (GO) in 1999. They were supposed to help out the villagers in getting their children enrolled in schools and raise awareness about the need for education. In 2010, the National Council Teachers’ Education (NCTE) ruled that only those qualify Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) will be appointed as teacher from the primary level upwards. However, it had given an exemption of five years to those who were already teachers.
In 2011, the government got permission from the NCTE to provide shiksha mitras the two-year BTC. Many batches were sent for training since 2011 and some are being trained even now; the total number, thus, reaching to nearly 1.72 lakh.
Basic Education Minister Ram Govind Chaudhry who was present in that meeting told The Pioneer that Government has all legal options before it and will take a decision that will protect the rights of Shiksha Mitras