The State Government’s declaration to fill 8000 vacant posts of school lecturers by guest faculty has raised hopes of many unemployed youths but the fact is that if the State education department completes the ongoing process of departmental promotions and direct recruitments of teachers then only 950 posts would remain vacant for the much hyped Guest faculty scheme.
There are thousands of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) qualified unemployed youths in the state, the recent declaration of the state government that 8000 vacant posts would be filled with guest faculty raised hopes of these youths.
Though the Government Order (GO) for the scheme is yet to be released but according to the plan a monthly stipend of Rs 15000 per month would be given to these youths. There are about 4500 posts lecturer Teachers (lTs) and 3500 posts of lecturers in the education department which are vacant at present.
It is worth mentioning here that the process of new recruitments in these vacant posts is currently in process. The department would directly recruit 3000 lTs and 1200 lectures and the process for this is currently on. Similarly the process for departmental promotions for 1100 posts of lTs and 1750 lectures is also pending which effectively leaves less than 1000 posts for the guest faculty scheme. The Rajkeeya Shikshak Sangh (RSS), the organisation of lTs and lecturers of government schools has voiced its protest against the guest faculty scheme.
The President of Tehri unit of RSS, KK Dimri told The Pioneer that the motive of the Government is not clear. He said that the education department should expedite the process of departmental promotions and new recruitments instead of adopting a stopgap arrangement. Ridiculing the education department Dimri said that on one hand the department informs that 2600 posts of lTs are surplus and on the other hand admits that 4500 of lTs are vacant which would be fulfilled by guest faculty scheme.
The RSS leaders also fear that the guest faculty scheme would mean backdoor entries into the department. They allege that the influential and resourceful candidates would sneak into the department in this process of recruitment.