Arunachal Pradesh Issues Strict Orders: Teachers Must Join New Postings Without Delay

The education department of Arunachal Pradesh has provided a stern and immediate directive to all teachers who were transferred this year to report to work in their new position and have no further delay. It is an order issued on Saturday by the education commissioner Amjad Tak towards hundreds of teachers who have not yet relocated to their new workstations even after the state government issued a transfer notification in July. 

What Happened?

On July 20, the Arunachal government gave the directive of transferring and posting of 203 teachers in the whole of the state. The action was to control and simplify the educational workforce of the state. Many teachers, however, who preferred to remain in the schools they were in did not accompany their new placements. Others cited health reasons, or a need to stay with spouses, turning in medical certificates or joint posting requests.

Strict Orders from the Top

Commissioner Amjad Tak has now clarified it: 

• Transferred teachers should be relieved by all district education officers at once so that they may be in their new schools at least. 
• A report of compliance by districts should be given, giving the name of transferred teachers, their present post, the date in which they left their former schools, and the very date on which they were employed at their present ones. 
• Teachers are also given a deadline to submit the report.  The reports should be submitted to the department by Monday “without fail”. .

What Will Happen when Teachers Do Not Transfer?

The circular threatens that the officers or district heads permitting delays or disregarding the new orders are to be dealt with sternly according to the service rules. It is clear that the education department means business when it declares that non-compliance is not an option. 

Why Is This Big News?

In the recent past, non-joining teachers have created big problems in areas such as West Kameng where the student parties  even threatened to bandh (strike) against shortages of teachers. It is only after local MLAs promised to refer the issue to higher authorities that that bandh was cancelled in search of a quick solution. The new crackdown is perceived as a direct reaction to the student and parent agitation, and the department is trying to fill the classrooms and continue learning.

What This Means for Arunachal Schools?

The education department is likely to increase the number of teachers in remote and understaffed schools with this move, which means that the children in state schools will not be missing lessons because of staff shortages. The migration also sends a stern message to the government system to adhere to, having the welfare of the students at the center stage.