In view of the delay in appointment of district education officers (DEOs) due to a case filed by some aggrieved graduate teachers (GTs), adviser School Education KT Sukhalu has asserted that he would be compelled to assign higher secondary school (HSS) teachers or officers from the district administration to function as DEOs as he could not allow the department to be defunct.
Speaking at a one-day seminar for national and state teacher awardees at the directorate of School Education here on Wednesday, the adviser said a decision was already taken for lateral entry at the level of assistant headmaster for those who had served 10/15 years through an interview, adding that the department would not be able wait any further for the matter to be settled.
“Many will be missed out, however I will not sacrifice the department because of selfish reasons and because of those who don’t have concern for the department,” he stressed.
Pointing out there were many schools without headmasters and assistant headmasters, he said yet the department could not fill up the vacancies because of the ongoing court case.
Sukhalu mentioned that there were certain posts of primary teachers (PTs) and GTs that were filled up in the past with candidates having passed class 10 or 12. Subsequently, he said they graduated and were inducted as GTs either through manipulation just because there were sanctioned posts and some were again regularised from the date they were appointed as GTs, which according to him did not have any logic or made any sense.
As no one was willing to listen and come to an understanding, he said if the court issue continued, none of the GTs (amongst these groups) would be promoted and they would retire as GTs. He also warned that if the court case continued, there won’t be SDEOs and subsequently there would be shortage of DEOs.
Under such circumstances, the adviser asserted that he would have no option but divert teachers from HSS or even the district administrative officers like EACs and SDOs to serve the department.
Hence, he appealed to those who had gone to the court to come to an understanding and settle the issue at the earliest.
Observing that many took up the teaching profession as a livelihood, he emphasised that this mindset should be changed to change the education system.
Sukhalu also expressed anguish over the practice of proxy teachers due to which enrolment was going down and dropout rate was increasing. He said the teachers should not expect the director or other officers to check, but they themselves must own responsibility.
Observing that many educated youth, who were jobless and had become burden to their families, were joining various underground factions that have joined the peace talks, he attributed this to the failure in the education system to motivate them properly.
Congratulating the awardees, Sukhalu remarked that education alone would not provide all the wisdom, adding that every individual would be judged by his or her action. He urged the teachers to build a good society by moulding young minds.
Retired director of School Education V Meyase, who was guest speaker at the event, urged the teachers to impart values to their students. He urged the awardees to encourage their colleagues to generate fresh ideas.
In his brief address, principal director School Education Shanavas C congratulated the awardees and urged the teachers to remain at the place of their posting and perform their duties dutifully.
He discouraged the practice of proxy teachers, while taking the recognition/award as an additional responsibility to be role models for students.
School Education director Wonthungo Tsopoe presented the keynote address, even as awardees Thungchio Shitiri and Hotoshe delivered short speeches.
The programme was chaired by school education deputy director Visetonuo Angami, while Emilo Patton proposed invocation prayer and school education additional director Razouseyi Vese delivered the closing remark.