School Education Department has often been in the eye of storm over lack of an established policy. However, having any policy makes little sense unless the policy is implemented and enforced in letter and in spirit. Most categories of teachers and administrative officers in the Department have been going around with a litany of complaints about untimely or inconvenient transfers, mid term transfers, neglected promotions, violation of established norms etc. Education Department is the largest employer from among the Administrative Departments of the State. Some observers say that its administration has become rather impossible owing to its comprehensiveness. We cannot say much on that but we know that tons of complaints are accumulated in the Department converging mostly on unjust treatment meted out to the teaching community.
Now, the Government has come out with new education policy or call it new transfer policy for employees of School Education Department issued today vide Government Order No. 622-Edu of 2015. The order, after it is read between the lines, appears to be motivated by humane considerations which the school teachers would be happy if implemented in letter and in spirit. The fact of the matter is that most of the items of the new policy did exist earlier also and very little has been added to them under the new policy. Nevertheless, reiteration of a slew of humane rules and precedents gives hope to the teaching community that if honestly implemented, these should go a long way in mitigating their woes.
Transfers are of much relevance to the teachers. Mid-session transfers, untimely transfers, transfers to difficult destinations, transfers that separate the serving spouses etc. are the broad issues that teachers are faced with. Now under new policy the minimum and maximum tenure of a posting, convenient posting a year ahead of superannuation, inter-transfers in summer and winter zone, mutual transfers, facilitating spouse transfer, etc. and many more aspects have been taken into view. Of course Ladakh has been kept out of the purview of some of the new rules of transfer and tenure of service. This is owing to climatic and topographical conditions of that region and that is a right approach. While appreciating that the new policy parameters have been laid down, the question remains of implementing the rules in letter and spirit. It is for the higher authorities including the Minister for Education to ensure that the new policy is enforced without fail and that favouritism and nepotism is discouraged and rejected in the Department.
Follow our WhatsApp channel