PANAJI
Student protests against abrupt transfers of teachers from several government higher secondary schools cast a shadow over Goa's State-level Teachers' Day celebration on Saturday, where Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced an immediate halt to the controversial exercise.
Addressing the function in Panaji, Sawant said he had directed the Directorate of Education not to transfer contract and lecture-based teachers from higher secondary schools at present.
"I have just issued instructions to the Director of Education. Their teachers will not be transferred. New teachers will join there and the department will take an appropriate decision regarding their reappointment," he said.
The assurance comes after students in Pernem, Sanguem, Valpoi and Panaji staged protests and boycotted classes over the mid-academic-year replacement of long-serving teachers ahead of mid-term examination season.
Sawant urged students to withdraw their agitation and appealed for dialogue instead of demonstrations.
"It was surprising to see students on the streets for the past two days. Such issues can be resolved through discussion. If teachers have any problems, they should take them up with the Education Department," Sawant said.
The Chief Minister clarified that no contract teacher or lecturer serving under the three-year contractual arrangement had been terminated and assured that none would lose their jobs.
He said the transfers were linked to a long-pending promotion process in the Education Department which had remained stalled for nearly two decades. Teachers promoted to higher posts were required to move to those positions corresponding to their new rank, he said, adding that failing to do so could affect their entitlement to salary commensurate to the post following promotion.
Sawant also assured that affected teachers would be accommodated after the department completes its streamlining exercise and that efforts were underway to address teachers' concerns.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced that every government primary school in the State would be provided with two tablet devices to promote digital learning at the grassroots level.
He also said the government was considering a fixed honorarium for around 750 registered pre-primary teachers and noted that over 33,000 students had benefited through the Chief Minister's Scholarship App so far.
From next year, the State-level Teachers' Day function will be telecast live in schools and colleges across Goa, Sawant added.
