Elementary teachers' body threatens stir

Itagar, Nov 25: The All Aruchal Pradesh Elementary Teachers’ Association (AAPETA) has threatened a stir if their demand for appointment of full-time head teachers (B-gazetted) and appointment and promotion of block education officers against vacant posts on the basis of seniority, is not met. “The State government is not complying with the Right to Education Act of 2009 and a Supreme Court ruling on October 3, 2012, which states that every upper primary schools should have a full time head teacher,” AAPETA president Takam Sonia told reporters at Aruchal Press Club here. The AAPETA, he said, has also been demanding revision of recruitment rules for promotion of employees in gazetted post and non-gazetted posts and of ministerial staff in the Education department.

Stating that the government has not honoured the 2014 high court judgment directive to clear the arrears to teacher within five months, AAPETA demanded the preparation of a seniority list of JT, AT (A), AT (B), AT (C) and crafts teacher so that promotion can be given on seniority basis. “The State government and the Education department is not complying with the RTE Act 2009 that subject to the posting and appointment of science, mathematics and Hindi teachers which is mandatory,” AAPETA member Bamar Yinyo said, adding that the government is not providing living quarters to teachers, drinking water and separate toilet to boys and girls in various schools across the State.

The AAPEDA also demanded bifurcation of Directorate of School Education into directorates of Elementary and School Education as per an order on October 28, 2010. The association further said the upper primary and lower primary schools of the State are in a dilapidated condition. The members said they would survey these schools and submit a report to the government for necessary action.