Cong opposes new rationalisation policy for teachers, alleges school closures

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Congress has opposed the state govt's new rationalisation policy for teachers, alleging it will lead to the closure of nearly 5,000 schools and dismantle the public education system. State Congress President Deepak Baij claimed that tribal areas in Bastar and Surguja would be severely affected.

Baij raised concerns over the new setup, which counts headmasters in primary and middle schools as teaching staff, alongside a declared teacher-student ratio of 1:30 for primary schools and 1:35 for middle schools. He questioned how two teachers could cover 18 subjects in primary schools, or a headmaster and one teacher manage 18 classes for 60 students in middle schools, especially with additional duties like mid-day meal arrangements and official correspondence.

Congress leader warned that school closures would impact not only teachers but also thousands of cooks, helpers, and women from self-help groups involved in mid-day meal preparation, leading to a livelihood crisis. He also stated that the reduction in minimum teaching positions across all school levels would limit opportunities for new teacher recruitments, thereby affecting education quality.

Baij alleged that the Sai govt is conspiring to benefit private educational institutions by dismantling the public education system. He pointed out that govt data indicates 5,484 schools have one teacher each, and 297 schools have no teachers at all. He further claimed that an announcement of 33,000 teacher recruitments in the assembly was "maliciously halted".

The Chhattisgarh Education Department has addressed concerns regarding the rationalisation of schools, clarifying that no schools will be closed, nor will any teaching positions be abolished. The department stated that the rationalisation process adheres to the Right to Education Act and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming for a fair distribution of teachers across schools.

The Education Department refuted claims that 5,000 lecturers would become surplus due to a period-based calculation. The department clarified that positions in high schools and higher secondary schools are approved based on subjects.

The department also labelled claims of 43,849 teaching positions being abolished as factually incorrect. It stated that based on calculations, only 5,370 teachers (3,608 assistant teachers at the primary level and 1,762 middle school teachers) were identified as surplus in proportion to student enrolment. These teachers will only be transferred to other schools. No positions are being abolished; all sanctioned posts will be kept for future use if student numbers increase.

The Education Department clarified that rationalisation is not merely an administrative process. Its core objectives are to ensure quality education, provide teachers to schools in need, and make the education system more equitable. The department stated that this initiative is a firm and forward-looking step towards strengthening educational infrastructure in Chhattisgarh and providing adequate academic resources to students.