2000 posts vacant in primary schools

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 3: Thousands of job seekers through employment exchange for primary schools are still waiting for interview letters from the Malda district primary school council (DPSC) since 2006. A large group of unemployed boys and girls are knocking the door of the council almost every day. But the council is not in a position to conduct its examination for the selection of teachers for primary schools. In reply, the helpless chairman of the Malda DPSC, Mr Uttam Sarkar said: “We are helpless because the matter is sub-judice. We are waiting for High Court's verdict. HC may hear one of cases on 7 March.” Speaking to the reporters Mr Sarkar said: “Nearly 2000 posts for the primary schools are vacant till date. We are facing difficulties to manage many primary schools in this district due to shortage of teachers. But we are helpless to start the process of recruitment for at least 1200 posts. “Not only Malda but also other districts in the state are also not in postion to recruit teachers due to this litigation. We don't know when HC would be able to direct us for recruitment.”According to him, there are three cases filed in the High Court. A group has demanded recognition of basic training degree from private colleges. Another group has demanded that only trained candidates would be recruited for primary schools. And finally a section of job seekers demanded that primary school council should be allowed to start recruitment procedure based on the list from the employment exchange. In Malda the primary school council had sought names from the employment exchange in 2006 to recruit at least 1200 teachers with the permission of the education department. The employment exchange had selected 35 candidates for one post and recommended their names to the Malda DPSC for screening. At present the number of vacancies has been increased from 1200 to 2000, according to the Malda DPSC. In Malda, council runs more than 2500 primary schools and facing difficulties to run many schools where teachers’ strength is not sufficient to manage large number of students in order to check dropouts implementing mid meal project in all schools.