Education volunteers under SSA demand special TET for them

SSs–1, CVs, EVs and IEVs look like disposable teachers – as though, they were appointed to be disposed of after their use.

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, January 19: Uncertainty continues to haunt youths who were appointed by the Assam Education Department as shiksha sarathis –1 (SSs–1), community volunteers (CVs), education volunteers (EVs) and inclusive education volunteers (IEVs) in the state under the centrally–sponsored Sarba Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) since the inception of the scheme. Now they look like disposable teachers – as though, they were appointed to be disposed of after their use.

The duty of such youths in the state was something that could not be performed by other educatiol workers, including teachers. The education scerio in the state had gone haywire with a large number of never–enrolled and school drop–out children remaining outside the four walls of schools. The situation was pathetic in tea estate and sar areas in the state. SSs–1, CVs, EVs and IEVs are the ones who had to toil hard to bring back those never–enrolled and school drop–out children to schools. They were successful in the job they had been assigned to a great extent. They also worked as assistant teachers in all one–teacher schools that are not fewer in number in the state.

Dispur, however, continues to stop short of giving them a blessing, and their demands have not been met as yet. In  2003, they got a minimal honorarium, but after that they had to work without any payment. All such volunteers then raised the demand for the regularization of their services by holding special TET for them. Instead of agreements under which they were working, they demanded appointment letters for permanent job as teachers.

During their repeated meetings with Dispur, former Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had assured them of holding special TET for their appointment. Sarma had even made the collection of data of the volunteers in accordance with verification format done, and sent them to the Government for approval.

However, dissidence in the ruling Congress, followed by the resigtion and expulsion of some ministers in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's Cabinet, poured cold water on the fate of such volunteers. Now they have been bearing the brunt of the instability in Gogoi Cabinet with Pradyut Bordoloi, who held the education portfolio till a few days back, did not take any initiative to hold special TET for them.

Now they rue the fact that they had to spoil the prime time of their career by working to boost the education scerio in the state. With the regular appointment of TET, Dispur is treating them like 'use–and–throw' teachers.

Such volunteers now demand that at any cost the state education department should hold special TET for them so as appoint them as regular teachers.