Imphal, February 04: Pledging unstinted support to the proposed teachers rationalisation exercises the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur cautioned all concerned against intervention in the process.

Highlighting that rationalisation of teachers had become indispensable in addressing the teacher shortage problem faced by the student community, Desam called upon the teachers having political clout as well as Ministers to refrain from scuttling the process in the interest of the students.

Charging that previous proposals to implement the teacher rationalisation process had been derailed due to political infringement and hobnobbing by some influential teachers, the student body said such ploy would not be tolerated this time around.

Pointing that grievances of students of lull and remote valley districts due to inadequate teaching staffs can only be mitigated to a great extent only through implementation of the teachers' transfer and posting exercises, Desam noted.

The rational posting and transfer of teachers has also become essential in maintaining the teacher-student equilibrium in view of most Imphal district schools having excess number of teachers compared to pupil.

While schools located at valley and some hill districts headquarters may not be faced with the teacher shortage problem the same could not described at most remote and far flung area institutions, it said.

The gap of inadequacy pertaining to shortages of science graduate teachers at most hill district schools could also be plugged when the rationalisation process is activated, observed the student body while adding that the proposed exercise is also highly dependent upon cooperation of various student bodies.

It also mooted that students should not oppose the Govt move as the process is generally aimed at providing equal opportunity of education to their under-privileged peers in hill and remote area schools.

On the other hand teachers themselves should desist from instigating the students whenever transfer or posting is effected, said Desam and categorically claimed of some teachers who resorted to such undesirable tactics to stay rooted at schools nearest to their place of residence.

Taking an emotional tone, the student body reminded of the fact that there are several number of teachers who had been posted at the same institution ever since joining the service as they lack political support.

The rationalisation process will not only pave the way for such helpless teachers to stay under the same roof as their families but could also provide a rare opportunity of enjoying home-cooked food, observed Desam.

More importantly the Desam contention should not be misinterpreted as taking up the cause of the teachers alone as the underlying objective is to ensure equal opportunity for academic pursuit of the student community especially in those areas where shortages of teacher need immediate attention, said a Desam statement.

On role of the Government, it said priority should be given to minimise procedural flaws in the teacher rationalisation exercises as some vested interest might exploit short-sightedness, if any, to foil the process.

Importance should also be given in issuance of the order in absence to avoid movement complicities of the effected teachers, it added.

Referring to the current ban on fresh appointment that also covers the Education Department, Desam urged the State Government to prevail upon the Centre to relax the restriction as shortage of teacher could not be undermined.

Even though the ban relaxation might not be feasible at the present juncture considering the financial crunch of the State Government gradual easing of the stricture should be pursued in advance as problem of teacher shortage in the near future is inevitable owing to superannuation of service term, deaths etc, the student body presumed.

Regarding impasses to the issue of common syllabus, Desam desired that State Govt maintain constant contact with the Education Minister and convene a meeting of all student bodies to overcome all impediments.

Comment