Punjab cabinet gives nod to separate cadre of school teachers for 6 border districts

A sub-committee will oversee the implementation of Right to Education, examine suggestions to revamp the department

The Punjab cabinet on Thursday cleared the proposal to create a separate cadre of teachers for the six border districts of Pathankot, Amritsar, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur.

The cabinet took a serious note of private schools continuing to deprive poor students of admissions despite reservations for them under RTE(HT file)

“As per the decision, the teachers recruited from each district will be posted there only. Before moving ahead with the proposal, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh (who chaired the meeting) suggested to take opinion of the state advocate general,” said CM’s media advisor Raveen Thukral, who along with local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu briefed the media.

The decision was taken as the government has been struggling to depute teachers at schools in the border belt for years, with the majority of teachers reluctant to join there.

In the meeting, it was also decided to set up a cabinet sub-committee to oversee the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) and to examine the suggestions for revamping the department.

The cabinet took a serious note of private schools continuing to deprive poor students of admissions despite reservations for them under the RTE.

Education minister Aruna Chaudhary and secretary (school education) Krishan Kumar had announced to create a separate cadre of teachers in January.