Right after the ministry of human resource and development (MHRD) gave approval to create 1,375 posts of junior basic training (JBT) teachers and trained graduate teachers (TGT), following the efforts of the members of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Welfare Association (SSATWA); ministry of finance has raised a few queries.
MHRD has sent the file to finance ministry, however, the latter had concerns as to whether the posts of teachers under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Right to Education (RTE) Act were the same. The officials were confused as to whether the SSA posts were contractual in nature. SSATWA president (Chandigarh) Arvind Rana clarified the same in meetings held on August 16-17 with the officials in New Delhi.
According to the revised SSA norms (dated January 1, 2014), “additional teachers will be provided as per the RTE norms to all government and local body schools; however, SSA assistance will not be available for filling up state sector vacancies that have arisen on account of attrition and retirement vacancies.”
The revised norms also mention that “The States should maintain unified teaching cadres and no separate SSA cadre is permissible, as all teachers are ultimately to be borne on the state/UT government.”
“I explained the points to the ministry officials, after which they were convinced that SSA and RTE posts were not different. They have asked MHRD to convey this in written. As soon as it is done, I will be notified,” said Rana.
{{/usCountry}}“I explained the points to the ministry officials, after which they were convinced that SSA and RTE posts were not different. They have asked MHRD to convey this in written. As soon as it is done, I will be notified,” said Rana.
{{/usCountry}}He added that a copy of the letter has been sent to the secretary and additional secretary of MHRD and to those dealing with UT school division and UT SSA division.
Meanwhile, the Project Approval Board (PAB) minutes 2016-17, the commitment by UT, Chandigarh and MHRD to create 1,375 posts of SSA was under the UT education department.
Members of SSATWA held protests in the past two years over this issue. They had met MP Kirron Kher and BJP member Sanjay Tandon on many occasions to take up the matter. They organised the ‘Challo Dilli’ campaign as well, in which the members held a massive gathering at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and released over 200 balloons to make their voices heard, urging the prime minister to intervene in this issue.
Deputy director school education Chanchal Singh said, “The process has started and will materialize soon.”