Assam govt. abolishes 8000 vacant posts of teachers, order says “to maintain financial neutrality”

The Assam Government has abolished 8000 vacant posts of teachers under the Directorate of Elementary Education. In an order passed by the Department of School education, this was notified on November 7. These posts were approved by the government but kept vacant to maintain financial neutrality as per the issued order. When the huge number of vacant posts created instability in the education system, the government decided to induct guest teachers in the schools to fill the vacancies temporarily. This was decided earlier this year in July. The education minister of Assam has time and again during media interactions, said these vacancies will be fulfilled by this financial year.

The decision to abolish the 8000 vacancies altogether definitely raises questions about the government’s promises and policies. The order issued yesterday by Dr Bijoya Choudhury, Secretary to the Government of Assam in Director Of Elementary Education read, “I am directed to convey the approval of the Government in the Department of School Education for abolishing of 8000 (Eight Thousand) sanctioned vacant post of regular teacher (4285 posts of Lower Primary Schools and 3715 posts at Upper Primary Schools) under the Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam as per enclosed list at Annexure I & II that were kept vacant to maintain financial neutrality regarding providing of additional service benefits to the State Pool Teachers under SSA, Assam as per Decision of Hon’ble Cabinet in the meeting held on 26.05.2020”.

This morning, in a Twitter thread, Dr Ranoj Pegu, the Education Minister of Assam announced, “Govt of Assam had decided in 2020 to offer regular pay scale, along with all other benefits, including service upto 60 years, to 11206 LP/ UP teachers working under SSA. In order to maintain rationality against this near-regularisation, the Govt. decided to keep 8000 sanctioned posts of regular teachers vacant to avoid duplicity and financial neutrality”. He further wrote, “Now, as these vacant posts are kept frozen and shall be vacant for a long period till the retirement of the contractual teachers, Govt. has considered it prudent to abolish them for financial discipline. Govt. may create posts as and when required owing to an increase in enrolment in the future.”

There are several reports that state several primary schools operate with just a single teacher in Assam. Last July, in an interview the Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu regarding the vacant posts said, “Of these, 4,000 each are vacant in the elementary and secondary level. Recently, we have appointed 11,000 teachers. A significant number of the vacant posts are reserved for the ST-Hills category. Unfortunately, we are not getting suitable candidates to appoint in the reserved category.”

The government has also taken to amalgamate around 3000 schools with the neighbouring schools this year. Between February to June, the Directorate of Elementary Education amalgamated 129 schools in Cachar alone. In most cases, the Lower Primary Schools were merged with the Middle English Schools.