Contractual teachers of Assam seek fulfillment of contract clauses

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The All Assam Primary TET Qualified Teachers Association has said that while Assam's Education Minister Ranoj Pegu recently launched a web application for 'Appraisal of Teacher's Performance' citing terms and conditions of the contract with contractual teachers, the Samagra Siksha Abhiyan, Assam (SSA) has not implemented other important provisions of the contract in question.

The association's president Trailokya Deka said in a statement that the Education Minister has warned that contractual teachers will have to face punitive action if they violate terms and conditions of the contract. However, Deka said, the Education Minister should also clarify as to what action will be taken against the SSA, the second party to the contract, for violating various terms and conditions.

He mentioned that the services of contractual teachers were 'almost regulaized' vide a Notification issued by the Governor as per an earlier decision taken by the State Cabinet. However, the clauses stipulated in the Notification have not been implemented even now. He alleged that the contractual teachers have been facing repeated deprivation.

Deka cited the example of the failure to remove discrepancies in the pay structure even though the necessary decision had been taken at a meeting with the SSA on September 30, 2021. Further, the contractual teachers have not received bonus and arrear Dearness Allowance (DA) as per the Rule of Pay (ROP), bank loan facility on the line of regular teachers, and due leave. Similarly, the Education Department has failed to even prepare the guidelines for medical reimbursement for contractual teachers, Deka said, adding that these are just some examples of violations of the contract by the SSA.

Deka alleged that contractual teachers have been made the targets of steps such as self-appraisal of teachers and rationalization of posting.

He also informed that members of the association sent memoranda to the Education Minister from all districts via the District Primary Education Officers concerned regarding their problems.

It may be mentioned that under the 'Appraisal of Teacher's Performance' web application, TET Contractual and State Pool teachers will have to register in the portal and submit their self-appraisal report. Self-appraisal report submitted by TET Contractual/State Pool teachers will be assessed by the Head Teacher (HT), Block Approval Authority (BAA) concerned and District Approval Authority (DAA). At each level, assessment will carry 50 marks and accordingly the final assessment will be an average mark out of 150. In case of TET Contractual/State Pool teacher holding the charge of HT or in case of single teacher, the assessment will carry 50 marks at each block and district level and such teachers will get an average mark out of 100. The final approval will be given by the State Approval Authority. Teachers who fail to submit their self-appraisal report or whose performance is not up to the mark will face necessary action.

There are 35,318 contractual teachers in the State – 26,064 teachers under SSA and 9,254 under State Pool.

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