Kolkata, Oct. 11 -- Teachers' preferences may get weight in the rationalisation of surplus primary teachers in Bengal, with seniority likely to determine priority in choosing schools.
The issue came into focus after the North 24-Parganas District Primary School Council (DPSC) issued a directive seeking details of surplus teachers and their preferred schools. In a memo, the council asked Sub-Inspectors of Schools across all circles to submit the information by October 12, along with school-wise Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) data as on October 9.
According to the proposed procedure reported by the DPSC, the most senior teachers willing to move will get the first opportunity to choose from five schools. Counselling is expected to be arranged for the remaining teachers, with seniority also determining priority during the process. The move marks a possible change from the transfer guidelines issued in July, which, according to sections of the teaching community, did not explicitly mention teachers' preferences. The July standard operating procedure (SOP) for surplus teacher rationalisation had drawn objections over the transfer mechanism and had come under judicial scrutiny.
Teachers have been demanding that their preferences be considered before transfer decisions are finalised. They have also sought postings closer to their homes or within a manageable commuting distance, arguing that consultation and counselling would make the process more acceptable.
The rationalisation exercise aims to address the uneven distribution of teachers across primary schools, some of which face staff shortages while others have surplus teachers. The DPSC memo requires each circle to submit a forwarding letter and two completed Excel sheets, one detailing surplus teachers and their preferences and the other listing school-wise PTR figures.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.