The ongoing debacle surrounding teacher recruitment in Uttar Pradesh is not just a bureaucratic mess—it's a damning indictment of systemic failure and political apathy.
The recent decision by the Allahabad High Court to order the re-listing of assistant teachers in the 69000 recruitment case is a welcome slap in the face of those who've turned a blind eye to the cries of injustice echoing for years.
Let's be clear: the allegations of a reservation scam aren't just baseless accusations; they're a stark reflection of a broken system where merit takes a backseat to political patronage and manipulation. The fact that candidates have had to resort to protests for three long years to demand transparency speaks volumes about the entrenched corruption and negligence that plagues the education sector in Uttar Pradesh.
To quote, “When Yogi Adityanath's government was formed in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the total number of primary schools was 113,249, and at that time, there were 399,273 appointed primary teachers. In 2017, there were 5.65 lakh approved positions for primary teachers in Uttar Pradesh. At that time, 165,727 positions for primary teachers were vacant. Since 2017, approximately 90,000 primary teachers have retired. After 2017, no advertisement for primary teacher recruitment has been issued in Uttar Pradesh. The adjustment of 137,000 Shiksha Mitras, which was canceled by the Supreme Court, i.e., those who were previously assistant teachers, has been carried out by the government in two parts, and even then, thousands of positions remain vacant. There is a severe shortage of teachers in the state. Many schools in Uttar Pradesh are devoid of teachers. In many places, even cooks are teaching students in schools. There are 1,091 crore students enrolled in primary schools. In Uttar Pradesh, there are over one and a half lakh vacant positions for primary teachers. The number of TET and CTET qualified candidates is over 1.5 million, who, despite being educated, are unemployed. The government should soon release an advertisement for 51,112 positions, adding some more positions (which have become vacant due to the retirement of retired teachers) to it.”
Here are some of the other posts that are going viral on X:
भर्तियां अटकी पड़ी है।
— ashish dixit (@ashish48628130) June 6, 2024
राजस्व लेखपालो के नियुक्ति पत्र 23 फरबरी को प्रधानमंत्री के हाथों से मिलने थे।
आजतक नही मिले। एक भर्ती 3 -4 साल चलती है।।
शिक्षक भर्ती आयी नही
#69000_शिक्षक_भर्ती_आरक्षण_घोटाला बड़ा मुद्दा था और अभी भी है, बिना इसके निवारण के भाजपा का सरकार में टिके रहना नामुमकिन है.
— Dhananjay singh Patel (@EccDD) June 6, 2024बात ये है सही आप लोग तो star है
— चौधरी मंजीत सिंह पंघाल (@Manjeet39294583) June 6, 2024
बेरोजगारी की सोचो आप लोग, ये पढ़ने की उम्र मे साधु बन हर कोई युवा ये नही कर सकता
नौकरी निकालो खाली पदों पर#शिक्षक_भर्ती उत्तर प्रदेश pic.twitter.com/LwF8lhxgkS
And let's not mince words about the political backdrop here. The BJP's loss in the recent Lok Sabha elections has laid bare the consequences of governance failures, and the mishandling of the teacher recruitment issue is a glaring example of this. It's not just about losing votes; it's about betraying the trust of millions who pinned their hopes on promises of change and progress.
The High Court's directive to rectify the skewed representation of OBC and SC categories is a step in the right direction, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. The government's delay and reluctance to address the root causes of the problem only deepen the sense of betrayal felt by aspirants and stakeholders alike.
It's time for action, not empty rhetoric. The government must prioritize transparency, accountability, and meritocracy in the recruitment process. Anything less is a betrayal of the aspirations of countless deserving candidates and a disservice to the future of education in Uttar Pradesh. It's time to clean house, weed out the rot, and restore faith in the system. Anything short of that is a betrayal of trust and an insult to the principles of justice and fairness.
------
Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed herein belong solely to "Shatakshi Ganguly, Editorial Coordinator, edInbox" and do not necessarily reflect the organisation's views. Any views or opinions expressed are personal and should not be attributed to edInbox unless explicitly stated.