SGTs must be promoted as headmasters in primary schools, not sidelined: APPTA

The Hindu

03-06-2025

The leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Primary Teachers Association (APPTA) have urged the State government to promote Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs) as headmasters in primary schools.
APPTA State President A.G.S. Ganapathi Rao and state general secretary K. Prakash Rao said: 'We oppose the government's move to transfer surplus school assistants to primary schools under the guise of 'conversion' in the ongoing promotions and transfers process. The decision is unscientific and detrimental, as it sidelines the promotional opportunities of SGTs, who are the rightful candidates for headmaster posts in primary schools.'
The association leaders said that school assistants possess subject expertise that must be utilised in high schools or upgraded primary schools.
The association leaders rued that the upcoming DSC recruitment may include appointments of headmasters for primary schools. For SGTs, who are already being sidelined, 'It is like 'rubbing salt into the wound,' they said.
The APPTA demanded that the government withdraw the proposal and after making temporary adjustments with surplus school assistants, fill all the vacant headmaster posts in model primary schools by promoting SGTs. They warned that if the government failed to address the issue, it could lead to statewide protests by SGTs.