Facing massive heat from the Opposition over the decision of filling of teaching posts in Government high and higher secondary schools through outsourcing, School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap and Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Ajay Chandrakar on Sunday attempted to put the State Government’s stand clear over the issue while terming the decision in interest of students residing in Bastar and other remote areas of Chhattisgarh.
“Following the repeated demands of students belonging to remote areas, the State Cabinet has decided to recruit expert teachers for Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and English. The decision on outsourcing expert teachers taken by the Government was also supported by all political parties including members of opposition during the meeting of Bastar Development Authority and Surguja Development Authority,” said School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap while addressing media persons here on Sunday.
Ruling out the allegation of Congress party that the Government is trying to recruit the ruling party’s members and volunteers of RSS through outsourcing, Kashyap said the objective of outsourcing is to sharpen the talents of students belonging to remote areas by ensuring quality of education with the recruitment of expert teaching faculty.
Due to geographical challenges and problem of left Wing Extremism (lWE), recruited candidates didn’t go to remote regions and even quit the teaching job if they found the opportunity equivalent to the the one held by them, he said.
Strongly condemning the act of NSUI activists at the Office of Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) on Saturday, the School Education Minister said “during the past few years, several parties have registered their protest against the decision of Government to outsource teachers. I want to inform them that this is a temporary arrangement in the interest of students. The interest of local people will not be affected by this decision as teachers provided by the contractual agency will be removed once eligible candidate would come forward for the teaching posts”.
Responding to a question Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Ajay Chandrakar said that as numerous attempts of the State Government and concerned department regarding recruitment of teachers in remote areas turned out to be futile, the Government opted for the temporary arrangement of outsourcing.
Unavailability of expert teaching staff has affected the quality of education in remote areas falling in Bastar and Surguja districts, said Chandrakar, adding that the decision is going to help talented students of these regions.
For around 13 times, the Chhattisgarh Government has invited application for recruitment of teachers in Bastar and Surguja district without positive outcome, added Chandrakar. Meanwhile, he also added that the opposition is trying to mislead people on this serious issue.
“Around 2300 posts of expert teachers will be filled through outsourcing in Bastar and Surguja divisions through placement agencies. Guidelines of Government of India and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) will strictly be followed during recruitment of vacant teaching posts on temporary basis,” he said.
Once vacant posts will be filled permanently, the arrangement of outsourcing will bewithdrawn, said Chandrakar. Meanwhile, continuing attack on the ruling party, the State Congress Chief Bhupesh Baghel said that in tenure of 12 years, Raman Singh-led Government in the State failed to produce qualified teachers in Chhattisgarh and the Government is completely responsible for the shortfall.
Over 19000 teaching posts in 12 districts are lying vacant and tender has been called for around 2163 posts; then how come the Government is going to fill remaining 17000 vacant posts, questioned Baghel.