The issue of reappointment of guest teachers has taken a political hue with both the major political parties eager to score political points over one another as the issue involves more than 6,000 guest teachers. The fact remains that political leaders are not able to resist their temptation of pleasing a large constituency created by these teachers and their families and in the maddening rush they are supporting their reappointment without looking into the merits of demands of these teachers.
The former Chief Minister, Harish Rawat and State BJP President, Ajay Bhatt have already visited the protest site to express their solidarity with the agitating teachers.
These teachers were appointed for a period of 89 days or end of the session by the education department to fill large number of vacant posts of lecturer and lecturer Teachers (lT) in the Government schools of the State in the month of August last year.
As per the terms of the contract their services were terminated on April 1 and the department initiated a fresh drive to recruit 2000 odd teachers in which those appointed as guests last year were also eligible to apply.
“The terms of the contract were clear. These guest teachers are putting undue pressure as they are aware that political parties would support them due to their sheer numbers. All these candidates are fully qualified and instead of spoiling their time by camping at protest site they should work hard and try to crack the competitive examination to enter the Government service in a proper manner,’’ said one of a senior officer of education department.
If the demand of reappointment of all the 6214 guest teachers is accepted then the process of appointments of lTs and lecturers done by process of direct recruitment by Uttarakhand Board of Technical Education and promoted teachers (by State public service commission) could get further delayed. It is pertinent to mention here that the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) has passed three orders in regular succession recently in which it has asked the state government to declare complete result of lT examination and appoint the selected candidates immediately.