Civic Chief orders to send non-performing teachers on forced leave, VRS

Aurangabad, July 13:

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) administrator A K Pandey has directed its department of education (DoE) to send non-performing teachers on forced leave or VRS. Pandey, who is also the municipal commissioner, reviewed the functioning of DoE on Monday.

He found the strength of students in AMC schools is declining each year. In the past decade, the strength declined from 33,000 to 13,000 students. He expressed his concern as the city is rapidly expanding from all four directions then also the strength of students is declining. Hence the administrator after reviewing the situation gave the above orders.

It may be noted that the citizens belonging to the weaker sections of the society or underprivileged category admit their wards in AMC schools as they do not have the capacity to pay the exorbitant fees incurred by private schools. Every year prior to the starting of the academic year, the AMC school teachers used to conduct surveys in the vicinity of respective schools to find out eligible students. This practice has been stopped. In a way, it is proving beneficial for private schools. It may be noted that the AMC provides free uniforms and provide textbooks to the students supplied from the state government.

On one hand, the strength of students is declining, but on another hand, the DoE had 72 teachers on clock-hour-basis (CHB) basis, 452 permanent teachers, and 12 more CHB teachers (who were appointed for a temporary period). Moreover, 12 more teachers registered with Pavitra Portal are waiting for their appointments.

Four CBSE schools

Pandey has directed the education officials to start CBSE schools at four different locations in the city. The administration underlined that it has started the process to seek affiliation as well.

Transfers during lockdown

The schools are closed for the past one and a half years. However, the DoE has issued transfer orders of more than 60 teachers as per their (teachers) convenience during the lockdown. Meanwhile, the question arises, what was the need to make transfers during the lockdown when the schools are closed and sans students.

Pandey stressed that the schools are closed, but the teachers should impart quality online education to the students. If the teachers are not ready to perform their duties then give them VRS and send some of them on forced leave, said the civic chief to the acting education officer.