Rationalisation process back to square one

The process of rationalisation is back to square one. The process which was restarted yesterday under the Chairmanship of Surjit Kaur, Assistant Director Public InstructionsSecondary Schools today witnessed the same problem which surfaced at the previous rationalisation process. On August 22 and August 23 about 30 surplus teachers from different government schools of the district were transferred at distant places. These teachers alleged discrepancies in the process. Following which Dr Jagtar Singh Khatra, Director Public InstructionsSecondary Schools, ordered to stop the process of rationalisation in between on August 24.

The process of rationalisation started again on August 31 when Surjhit Kaur ADPISecondary Schools dismissed the previous transfer orders after reviewing them. All the surplus teachers of the district were again called at R S Model Senior Secondary School Shastri Nagar on September 1 and 2. As per Surjit Kaur, 8220;We asked these teachers about the choice of the stations where there is vacancy. Now we will issue them transfer orders accordingly. But today the team, headed by Surjit Kaur witnessed the same problem. About 30 teachers who earlier alleged discrepancies in the process when they were posted at distant places again made hue and cry when they were given the option of stations. Sudesh Bajaj DEOSecondary Ludhiana said, 8220;This is the same group of teachers who were also posted at distant places in previous process of rationalisation. And again these teachers are being posted at the distant places as there are no vacancies in the nearby schools. And we cannot afford to allow them for continuing their services in the present schools.8221;

All this led to lot of confusion among the officers as well as teachers. After two days8217; long wait these teachers tried their best to convince the officers about their problem. But the ADPI as well as DEOSecondary, Ludhiana, convinced them that only distant stations had the vacancies. Sudesh Bajaj said, 8220;We will have to allot them these stations as there is no other option.8221; However, about eight teachers were still waiting for their counselling after 7:30pm.

Meanwhile, Surinder Grewal, president of Democratic Teachers8217; Front alleged the policy of rationalisation was not made clear to them. He said, 8220;Teachers were not aware of this policy.8221; While DEO denied this saying,8221;We made teachers aware about it through MLAs as well as through school headmasters and principals also. These are false allegations.8221;