The Uttarakhand High Court’s decision to put stay in the process of recruitment of primary teachers has disappointed thousands of Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualified candidates who were waiting for the elusive Government jobs for long.
These candidates are worried as the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) has imposed a ban on recruitment of BEd qualified candidates in the primary teacher cadre after March 31. The Primary education department which was all geared up to issue appointment letters to all the selected 1164 candidates so that they are not affected by the order of NCTE has stalled the process in wake of the HC order.
The HC, while disposing off a petition of Harish Chandra ordered a stay on recruitment process of teachers on Wednesday. The petitioner had challenged the education department’s decision not allow Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) and TET level I qualified candidates in the process of recruitment.
The court’s order, however, came as a shocker for the BEd/ TET candidates who were in the merit list released by the department on March 27 and were waiting for the appointment letter.
One such candidate said that it is unfortunate that the process of appointment was stalled at the last moment. “The NCTE is clear that no BEd candidates would be selected as primary teachers. It is last chance for me to get into a government job. I believe that the education department failed to put relevant information to the notice of court which stayed the recruitment,’’ he said.
The Primary education Director, Seema Jaunsari told The Pioneer that ongoing counseling process in the districts of the state has been stalled in wake of HC order. She said that the department would file its reply in the court through standing counsel on Friday.
Meanwhile the candidates who were left out from the merit list are also planning to challenge the drive in the HC on the plea that 562 serving candidates are able to make into the merit list of 1164 selected candidates which is in violation of all norms.
Under pressure from thousands of BEd qualified youths, the education department initiated recruitment drive for 1200 posts of primary teachers recently, on March 27 it released a merit list of 1164 candidates and process of counseling was initiated from March 28.
The spokesperson of the federation of BEd/ TET candidates, Arvind Barthwal told The Pioneer that the State Government should approach the NCTE and request that it should extend its reprieve given to recruit B.Ed candidates as primary teachers for one more year.