Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Geetashree Oraon has decided to implement Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s announcement about preparing waiting list of Jharkhand Teacher Eligibility Test (JTET) candidates against the vacant seats in each district.
Disclosing HRD’s plan of implementing this decision, Minister Geetashree Oraon told The Pioneer, “I am contemplating on the matter. Within a day or two I will convey my officials to include the plan in the ongoing TET recruitment in all the districts.”
Notably, as per present provisions JTET passed candidates for Class 1 to 5 can apply in as many districts as they want. As one can be appointed in any one of districts chances are that many seats would remain vacant in the want of waiting list. After being indicated towards the lacuna in TET by legislators of various parties in the Assembly the CM announced felt that a waiting list of the aspirants would be prepared which would supplement the required number of qualified teachers.
Though, the proposal in this regard has to be moved by the Department and circulated to all the districts which would have to work afresh for preparing the waiting list. Process for appointment has been started in several districts and many including Ranchi have come up with the merit list of the candidates to be appointed for class 1-5.
This apart the Department is also under pressure to amend provision for reservation of Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates in Urdu teachers’ appointment. Against the 4401 sanctioned posts for Urdu teachers just about 1900 could pass the TET. Though Department is preparing to appoint nearly 800 Urdu teachers the rest would remain unfilled in the want to candidates.
“We will fill 1100 posts for class 6-8 Urdu teachers as and when the process starts,” assured the Minister in the House but the real problem is lack of SC-ST candidates with Urdu background which has left more than half of the vacancy unfilled. The Government needs to amend the reservation provisions for this.
Notwithstanding all this, officials of HRD seemed clueless about the scope of implementation of these plans. “We have not received any instruction regarding HRD Minister’s plan. These all are verbal announcements and what we need a clear instruction,” an officer said.
Meanwhile, Geetashree Oraon has also planned of reducing the qualifying marks of ST and SC from the upcoming TET. Primary Education Director Jeetwahan Oraon indicated that presently qualifying marks for SC, ST and OBC in JTET are 52 per cent, obtained out of a total 150 marks. For General category it is 60 percent. Since most of the SC and ST candidates hail from far off villages, the Minister wants the mark to be reduced, he had said.
As of now, except Ranchi none of the districts have been able to complete the recruitment process of class 1 to 5 teachers. The recruitment of class 6 to 8 is also pending. “We will complete class 1 to 5 teacher’s recruitment by the end of August,” said District Education Superintendents (DSEs) of Khunti.