The association of government school guest teachers has expressed satisfaction at the state cabinet’s decision of not removing and adjusting guest teachers as part time teacher in the schools. The association is now waiting for the Government order (GO) for the cabinet’s decision to take back its agitation. The decision of cabinet brought cheers to the faces of the agitating guest teachers who were camping at the protest site near parade ground from last many days.
The education department had initiated a process to remove these teachers but the cabinet’s decision means that the department would have to do a roll back on this process. The cabinet also paved way for regularization of these teacher by announcing that based on their performance these teachers can be absorbed as regular teachers after completion of three years.
The State president of the association, lalit Dangwal said that the cabinet decision is a victory of the guest teachers who were on a path of agitation. He however added that the agitation would be taken back only after the GO for the decision is released.
In view of large number of vacant posts of teachers, 6214 guest teachers were employed by the education department for one year on contract last year. On March 31 this year, the department terminated their services after which these teachers started a massive agitation.
The State was under spell of President’s rule at that time and these teachers got boosted when Chief Minister Harish Rawat and education minister Mantri Prasad Naithani extended their support to them.
When the Congress government was restored in the state following President’s rule, the first thing it did was to release a Government Order (GO) for reinstatement of these teachers.
This GO was contested in the court which rendered the entire process of recruitment of guest teachers as unconstitutional.
The court however said that the government can appointment these teachers till March 17, if its wishes. later the court asked the education department to terminate the services of these teachers.