Pradhan criticises Odisha Govt’s ‘Teacher on Call’ policy

Bhubaneswar, Sep 5 (PTI) Coming down heavily on Odishagovernment’s ‘Teachers on Call’ policy, Union Petroleum andNatural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan today expressedconcern over the appointment of teachers on a contractualbasis in the state. In his message in social media on the ocassion ofTeachers’ Day, Pradhan expressed concern over the appointmentof 1,07,752 newly aided teachers, gana sikshaks and sikshasahayaks in primary schools in Odisha on contract basis. "It is the responsibility of the government of awelfare state to relieve the teachers of their existingfinancial problems so that they can take proper care of thestudents," he said. Stating that 13,977 posts of high school teachers havefallen vacant in the state since long, Pradhan said Odishagovernment instead of appointing thousands of unemployed B.Edand certified teachers as regular teachers for these vacantposts preferred to fill them through its ‘teacher on call’policy. Hitting out at the state government and the ruling partyfor criticising him for saying the government has been usingcontractual teachers as "Uber and OLA vehicles", Pradhan said"I stick to my earlier statement and urge the state governmentto appoint regular teachers in schools and regularise thosewho have been given contractual appointment." Odisha’s School and Mass Education minister Debi PrasadMishra responded to Pradhan’s remark saying, "The UnionMinister should refrain from debating on the issue," and saidthe state government engaged the teachers ‘on call’ basis onthe suggestions of the HRD ministry. Pradhan alsp said the government must refrain from the"unethical practice" of paltry salary to contractual teachersand terminating their services as per its "whims". On the "sorry state of affairs" of elementary education inthe state, Pradhan said there is no high school in 38 grampanchayats in Odisha while 376 schools do not have their ownbuildings. "Of the total 53,252 schools in the state, 42,070 schoolsdo not have a playground which is about 80 percent of theschools." He said schools do not even have required class roomsand students of different classes are taught in one room. "Unfortunately, there is provision for class rooms in41,670 schools which is about 80 per cent of the total schoolsin the state." Pradhan said. Mishra said the state government has taken steps to fillup the posts of teachers. PTI AAM KKMNG