Row over appointment of para-teachers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, (India) Dec. 4. — Recruitment of para-teachers for nearly 50 schools is still pending in Malda district.

Though the Malda district magistrate has informed the government about the matter, the administration is still not sure about the future course of action regarding the matter.

The problem has arisen as the school authorities failed to submit the names of the candidates in the panel by the stipulated 15 November deadline, officials said.

As a result an indefinite hunger-strike was organised by the association formed by the para-teachers in the suspended panel.

The district magistrate finally had to sit with the recruited para-teachers and it was decided that the administration would instruct the concerned authorities to reconsider their recruitment after a completion of scrutiny following court directives.

The last date for submission of the panel report was 15 November, which was a holiday due to the birthday of Guru Nanak and as a result some school authorities were not present From 16 November onwards, the district primary education programme officer, refused to accept any panel list.

It was only then that trouble started and still many political leaders are trying to coax the district authorities for the acceptance of the panel list.

“The holiday was the main reason for confusion among the teachers. Our repeated requests have failed to convince the education planning officer, to consider some cases on this ground,” said the Congress MLA, Mr Mahababul Hoque.

Not only Mr Hoque, other MLAs too have requested for the acceptance of the panel list of para-teachers of many schools from their respective areas.

On the other hand, the newly formed para teachers organisation has decided to submit another deputation to the district magistrate and the district primary education officer on 8 December.

Sources said that out of 3,600 empanelled para-teachers, only 2,100 would be appointed. The education department has also rejected some names from the panel due to technical mistakes.

“The authorities have submitted the panel list, but they were not explained the cause of the absence of more than two names from the panel list.

As per the laid rules, the names of at least three candidates should be present, for preparing a panel,” said an officer.

The district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, said: “I have written a letter to the government on this issue.”

“The government is not interested in recruiting para-teachers now due to various reasons. It has planned to appoint one permanent teacher, where three para teachers are normally required,” said Mr Goutam Chakraborty, the Congress sabhadhipati of the Malda zilla parishad.