'Barkataky utterly failed as Education Minister'

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 10: The Sadou Asom Onijukta Uchcha Prathamik Sadharon TET Uttirnno Prarthi Samiti has said that Sarat Barkataky has utterly failed as the State Education Minister. The Samiti expressed it surprise as to why a politician who badly feels his age has been given the important portfolio of Education by Chief Minister Gogoi.

In a statement issued to the press today, the Samiti said that they had qualified the TET in 2012 but the government failed to absorb them as teachers, and they have since been demanding their appointment as upper primary teachers in the vacant posts.

“Barkataky did assure us that we would be given appointment by March 2015. However, on January 5, 2016 he told our representatives at a meeting with him that under no circumstances we could be absorbed as teachers as B.Ed and D.El.Ed degrees had been made compulsory for appointment as teachers in April 2015,” the statement said, and added: “This is an utter failure on the part of the minister. If the Education Minister in neighbouring West Bengal can exempt the compulsory B.Ed or D.El. Ed degrees till March 2016, why can’t Barkataky do that? This is also mysterious as to why Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has given Barkataky, who badly feels his age, the important portfolio of Education.”

Reacting sharply to Barkataky’s statement that there is no vacant post of upper primary teachers in the State, the Samiti said: “It’s a blatant lie on the part of the minister. According to information we have, as many as 7079 posts of Upper Primary teachers are lying vacant in the State. This information was given also on the floor of the Assembly by former Education Minister Pradyut Bordoloi during its summer session in 2014. Since the government has deceived us, we’re going to move the court.”