The State Government’s decision to appoint about 8000 unemployed youths as guest faculty in the government schools of the state is being opposed by the biggest organisation of school lecturers the Rajkeeya Shikshak Sangh (RSS). In the two-day convention of the RSS the leaders and the members were unanimous in their opposition for the proposed appointments as guest faculty.
Though the Government Order (GO) for the guest faculty scheme is yet to be released but the education minister Mantri Prasad Naithani and senior education department officials have declared about the state government’s intention to recruit 8000 Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) qualified unemployed youths. According to the plan a monthly stipend of Rs 10000- 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 Divisional Patron of RSS, Sohan Majira said that the education department should complete the process of promotions in the vacant posts of lecturer Teachers (lTs) before making any ad hoc measures like appointments as guest faculty. He said that if the state government is really serious about giving benefits to the unemployed youths it should give them proper regular appointments.
The President of Tehri unit of RSS, K K Dimri saidthat the motive of the government for guest faculty scheme is not clear; he added that on 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 which is confusing. 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.
Interestingly the recruitment process for the 3000 lTs and 1200 lectures is currently in progress. Similarly the process for departmental promotions for 1100 posts of lTs and 1750 lectures is also pending which when completed would leave very less seats for the guest faculty scheme.