Mita Mukherjee
West Bengal government has started a study to get a clear picture about the exact number teachers working in government-run schools in the state. The details about the period of posting of individual teachers have also been sought from the institutions.
According to a senior official of the state school education department the government is likely to take a decision on transfer of government school teachers and the details about teachers has been sought to get an idea about the student-teacher ratio in such schools.
The school education department issued a notice to such schools last week where the institutions have been asked to state how long the teachers have been working in their respective institutions by January 20.
“It has been decided by the competent authority that the rationalisation of the government school teachers will be done shortly. For the purpose of this rationalisation process, posting details of all the teachers are necessary. A portal has been developed for this purpose. You are therefore requested to enter the posting details of all the teachers posted in your schools within 20.01.2025.”
There are 39 schools in the state which are run directly by the state school education department. A copy of the last week order has been sent to all the 39 schools most of which are known to be most sought after schools among a a large section of parents. Hindu School, Hare School, Bethune Collegiate School, Sakhawat Memorial Girls School are some of the well known government schools in Kolkata.
It is a transferable job for teachers who work in the government-run schools. The teachers of government schools are appointed through the state Public Service Commission. The state Public Service Commission on December 31 announced that it would appoint teachers for the government schools.
Teachers in state-aided schools are recruited through the State School Service Commission. Unlike many government-aided schools where the number of students are very less compared to number of teachers, most of the government schools still have high enrollments.
Education minister Bratya Basu announced on January 6 about the government’s plans to merge government- aided schools because of having very low enrollment.
Saugata Basu, the secretary of West Bengal Government School Teachers’ Association said nearly half the teaching posts in the 39 government schools are vacant. “The number of vacancies in teaching posts in the government schools have increased because the state Public Serrvice Commission has not recruited teachers for nearly 11 years. Nearly 40 to 45 percent teaching posts are lying vacant in most of the government schools. There is no doubt that some teachers who are posted in far away places from home need transfers. But insteading of focusing on transfers, the government needs to give more importance in filling the vacancies and rationalise the pupil- teacher ratio,” Basu said.
