Bhubaneswar, Sept 6: Yesterday, once again, regarding the “teacher on call” policy, the Senior BJP leader and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan slammed the state government. On the eve of Teachers’ Day (Guru Divas) and Ganesh Puja, Pradhan on social media informed that at present on a contractual basis a total of 1,07,752 newly aided teachers, Gana Sikshaks and Siksha Sahayaks are appointed in primary schools in Odisha.
He also reminded the government of its responsibility to make the teachers financially well-off so that they can take proper care of the students. Highlighting the fact that 13,977 posts of high school teachers have fallen vacant in the state, he pointed out that instead of appointing thousands of B.Ed and CT candidates, those who are waiting to be appointed as regular teachers against these vacant posts, has preferred to fill up these posts through its ‘teacher on call’ policy. According to official records, he also stated that 38 Gram Panchayats in the state are not having high schools while 376 schools run on rent. 42,070 out of 53,252 schools do not have a playroom which is about 80 percent of the total schools in the state.
On the contrary, BJD spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro mocked Pradhan’s statements. School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra said the state government has taken steps to fill up teacher posts.
