State Education Department adopts new policy to fill up vacant posts

February 21: In a written reply to a query by AGP MLA Utpal Dutta during the ongoing budget session of the State Legislative Assembly, Assam Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya said a total of 36,523 teaching posts are vacant at present, including 17,293 posts in primary schools. 10,137 posts in lower primary, 7,156 are in upper primary schools and 19,230 teaching posts in high, higher and Madrassa schools are lying vacant.

The minister admitted that there are are loopholes in the education department. He said, “There lies the problem. Sometimes officers don’t work the way they should. It’s going on over the years.” This was stated by Siddhartha Bhattacharya on the floor of the Assam Assembly on February 20th, 2019.

Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya informed the House that it becomes possible for the department to fill up the vacancies on time only when it gets a clear picture of vacant posts. The minister also admitted the prescribed student-teacher ratio is not being strictly adhered to in Assam. The student-teacher ratio in lower primary and upper primary schools should be 30:1 and 35:1 respectively. However, he was quick to state that his department has already taken a positive initiative in this regard.

The minister said that the Principals and Headmasters of the schools and colleges in Assam has already been served a notice wherein it was stated that they should inform the department of the retirement of teachers six months in advance so that they can start the process and appoint a new teacher on time.

Meanwhile, a similar Office Memorandum signed by the Joint Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Assam was issued on 18 February, 2019. In the said office Memorandum, modalities were prescribed for filling up of the sanctioned vacant posts in all higher educational institutions in the state.