Teachers protest over transfer policy

Annoyed over the alleged discrepancies in the transfer policy of the authorities dozens of teachers on Friday staged a protest outside the office of District Education Officer (DEO) primary, here where the process of counselling for transfers was underway. The teachers were protesting the department’s decision to open only 10 per cent of total vacant posts for transfers from schools located in inaccessible areas to those in accessible areas.

The Education department had released a list of 106 teachers who were eligible for transfers from inaccessible schools to accessible ones on the department website. The department had also released a list containing 126 teachers who are entitled to transfer from accessible to inaccessible area schools. 

Needless to say that almost all teachers wanted to get schools located in the accessible area. It was learnt that there are about 170 posts which are vacant in the accessible schools and as per the new policy the department invited only first 20 candidates for counselling. The remaining transfer hopefuls were agitated by this and registered their protest by burning the copies of new transfers’ policy of teachers. Venting her anger while rubbishing the policy Anupama Rana, a primary teacher posted in Ramdunga village in Chakrata said that teachers who are junior to her were transferred last year while due to the policy of doing 10 percent transfers, she would not be able to come in the school of her choice this time also. 

Sudhir Arya, vice president of PSS, Chakrata block, said the department should first transfer the people from accessible schools to those located in inaccessible areas so that the number of vacancies in accessible areas increases. He also questioned propriety of inviting only 20 teachers for counselling and termed it as a mockery. Another primary teacher, Vipin Chauhan claimed that the entire process of transfer and claims of total transparency are nothing but an eyewash and the department has kept large number of vacant seats for inter district and transfers of those with connections from backdoor.

The Joint director of Education department BS Negi who was present in the counselling as observer told The Pioneer that all the transfers were strictly being done as per policy and the entire process was totally transparent.