Attachment of five teachers from schools located in remote mountainous areas to newly set up ‘complaint and suggestion cell’ at education directorate in Dehradun has fuelled resentment among the community of teachers. Interestingly the attachment of these teachers are done from the office of the Education Minister who ironically had cancelled all irregular transfers of teachers in the name of attachment after assuming charge.
The teachers who are transferred are Shailesh Joshi from Nainital, Pranay Bahuguna from Rudraprayag , Umesh Shah from Udham Singh Nagar, Kamleshwar Prasad and Usha Gairola both from Tehri. It is learnt that all these teachers are having very good political connections with the BJP leaders.
One of these teachers is wife of a very influential leader of BJP. The department officials are tight lipped and are refraining from making any comment on the issue but these attachments have fuelled unrest among teachers.
“These attachments have proved that there is no difference between Congress and BJP. Education Minister Arvind Pandey had taken a moral high ground when he ordered cancellation of all attachments and declared that transfers would be done as per the policy and in a transparent manner. But these attachments have exposed him,’’ said one a teacher posted in Chakrata block of Dehradun.
Another teacher said that putting teachers of subjects like mathematics and science in a cell meant to receive complaints is really a wrong approach at a time when the education directorate is overstaffed. The education minister had recently raised the issue of excess staff at education directorate and other offices in Dehradun and said that the excess staff would be transferred to districts and blocks but instead of shifting people from here he has brought teachers from schools to directorate to do clerical work.’’
Notwithstanding the protest of teachers, the complaint and suggestion cell has started functioning. An official communiqué of the department inform that the cell has registered ten complaints which were posted on the facebook page of education minister. The cell has forwarded these complaints to the department concerned, provided a specific number to every complaint. The complaints can be registered on the Facebook page and twitter account of education minister. Similarly one can send the grievance on WhatsApp number 8395889301 or send an e mail on vidyalayashikshayatsujhav@gmail.com. Written complaints can also be sent on Complaint and suggestion cell, education directorate (Secondary) Nanoorkheda, Dehradun. The department would soon launch a helpline number for the cell. .