Teachers' forum: Rationalisation to promote privatisation & corruption

Time of India

4 days ago

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Sarva Shiksha Sanjha Manch, a joint forum of teacher organisations, on Saturday demanded an immediate rollback of the ongoing teacher rationalisation process in the state and including teachers' perspectives.
The Manch termed the exercise 'inconsistent' and detrimental to the education system, announcing a series of protests, including district-level 'pol-khol' (expose) rallies on 10 June, divisional rallies on the 13th, and a boycott of the 'Shala Praveshotsav' (school admission festival) from 16 June.
Speaking at a press conference at the Raipur Press Club, Virendra Dubey and other representatives asserted that the current rationalisation drive would promote privatisation of education and foster corruption.
They clarified that their opposition was not to ensuring teacher availability in single-teacher or teacher-less schools. The forum also mentioned that a teachers' body had approached HC and they were also exploring legal options in case their protests are not responded to.
'Process Halted Last Yr But Resumed Without Inccluding Improvements'
The representatives highlighted that similar rationalisation directives issued in Aug-Sept 2024 faced widespread criticism and protest.
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Although that process was halted last year, the department restarted it on 1 May 2025, without incorporating any improvements.
The Manch alleged widespread nepotism and corruption, citing the replacement of a former education minister and suspension of four divisional joint directors and several other officials. They claimed that several points in the current directive violate the departmental set-up of 2008 and the recruitment and promotion rules of 2019.
They also opposed the merging of schools based on low enrolment, short distance, or same campus.
'On Ground Changes That Will Affect Teachers & Students Not Being Addressed'
A key concern raised is the reduction of the minimum set-up for primary schools from three posts, including the headmaster, to two. This, they argued, makes proper functioning of primary schools unfeasible, especially with the attachment of 'Balwadis', raising concerns about education quality and child safety.
The reduction will lead to a large number of assistant teachers becoming surplus, causing significant disorder and discontent, they said.
The Manch criticised the exemption of new recruits on probation from being declared surplus, while existing teachers are being removed, terming it an 'injustice' and a protection of arbitrary actions by departmental officials. Furthermore, they highlighted the the uncertain future of hundreds of Pota Cabin schools in Bastar division that lack departmental set-up approval.
The rationalisation process in high and higher secondary schools, which identifies surplus teachers based on the number of periods, was deemed inappropriate, with the Manch arguing for more posts based on sections. The Manch put forward several key demands: immediate review and improvement of the rationalisation directives issued on 2 Aug 2024; a meeting of all teacher organisations for a consensual solution; no immediate changes to the departmental set-up of 2008; exclusion of headmaster posts from teacher count in primary and middle schools; and a minimum subject-free set-up for primary (01+02) and middle (01+04) schools.
Finally, the Manch urged the department to establish departmental advisory committees at all levels.
Dept Speaks On Process
Meanwhile, education department secretary Siddhartha Komal Singh Pardeshi clarified that the rationalisation is being done as per the RTE Act 2009 and NEP 2020, assuring that no teacher will lose their job.
He stated the aim is to provide quality education to children. Pardeshi explained that the rationalisation of 10,372 schools (98.6%) is being carried out on the same campus, encompassing primary, middle, high school, and higher secondary sections.
He asserted that this 'one school, one campus' approach aligns with national and international criteria for better performance and results. He added that a teacher will monitor children from class 1 to 12 and that the rationalisation will make the method flexible, allowing a teacher of higher or higher secondary school to teach students of middle or high school in case of absence of any teacher.
Pardeshi reiterated that no schools will be closed.
He stated that out of approximately 48,000 schools, 10,538 are undergoing rationalisation, with 10,372 (98.6%) on the same campus. Adding that only 166 schools are being rationalised based on distance or student-teacher ratio.
The secretary further explained that as per the RTE Act, a headmaster is required for every 150 students in primary schools, but if there are 60 students, two teachers will be present. He noted that present headmasters are handling both teaching and administrative work.
Regarding Atmanand schools, he clarified that those on deputation are not under the purview of rationalisation, but those working as part of mergers and regular employees will be affected.
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Sarva Shiksha Sanjha Manch, a joint forum of teacher organisations, on Saturday demanded an immediate rollback of the ongoing teacher rationalisation process in the state and including teachers' perspectives.
The Manch termed the exercise 'inconsistent' and detrimental to the education system, announcing a series of protests, including district-level 'pol-khol' (expose) rallies on 10 June, divisional rallies on the 13th, and a boycott of the 'Shala Praveshotsav' (school admission festival) from 16 June.
Speaking at a press conference at the Raipur Press Club, Virendra Dubey and other representatives asserted that the current rationalisation drive would promote privatisation of education and foster corruption.
They clarified that their opposition was not to ensuring teacher availability in single-teacher or teacher-less schools. The forum also mentioned that a teachers' body had approached HC and they were also exploring legal options in case their protests are not responded to.
'Process Halted Last Yr But Resumed Without Inccluding Improvements'
The representatives highlighted that similar rationalisation directives issued in Aug-Sept 2024 faced widespread criticism and protest.
Although that process was halted last year, the department restarted it on 1 May 2025, without incorporating any improvements.
The Manch alleged widespread nepotism and corruption, citing the replacement of a former education minister and suspension of four divisional joint directors and several other officials. They claimed that several points in the current directive violate the departmental set-up of 2008 and the recruitment and promotion rules of 2019.
They also opposed the merging of schools based on low enrolment, short distance, or same campus.
'On Ground Changes That Will Affect Teachers & Students Not Being Addressed'
A key concern raised is the reduction of the minimum set-up for primary schools from three posts, including the headmaster, to two. This, they argued, makes proper functioning of primary schools unfeasible, especially with the attachment of 'Balwadis', raising concerns about education quality and child safety.
The reduction will lead to a large number of assistant teachers becoming surplus, causing significant disorder and discontent, they said.
The Manch criticised the exemption of new recruits on probation from being declared surplus, while existing teachers are being removed, terming it an 'injustice' and a protection of arbitrary actions by departmental officials. Furthermore, they highlighted the the uncertain future of hundreds of Pota Cabin schools in Bastar division that lack departmental set-up approval.
The rationalisation process in high and higher secondary schools, which identifies surplus teachers based on the number of periods, was deemed inappropriate, with the Manch arguing for more posts based on sections. The Manch put forward several key demands: immediate review and improvement of the rationalisation directives issued on 2 Aug 2024; a meeting of all teacher organisations for a consensual solution; no immediate changes to the departmental set-up of 2008; exclusion of headmaster posts from teacher count in primary and middle schools; and a minimum subject-free set-up for primary (01+02) and middle (01+04) schools.
Finally, the Manch urged the department to establish departmental advisory committees at all levels.
Dept Speaks On Process
Meanwhile, education department secretary Siddhartha Komal Singh Pardeshi clarified that the rationalisation is being done as per the RTE Act 2009 and NEP 2020, assuring that no teacher will lose their job.
He stated the aim is to provide quality education to children. Pardeshi explained that the rationalisation of 10,372 schools (98.6%) is being carried out on the same campus, encompassing primary, middle, high school, and higher secondary sections.
He asserted that this 'one school, one campus' approach aligns with national and international criteria for better performance and results. He added that a teacher will monitor children from class 1 to 12 and that the rationalisation will make the method flexible, allowing a teacher of higher or higher secondary school to teach students of middle or high school in case of absence of any teacher.
Pardeshi reiterated that no schools will be closed.
He stated that out of approximately 48,000 schools, 10,538 are undergoing rationalisation, with 10,372 (98.6%) on the same campus. Adding that only 166 schools are being rationalised based on distance or student-teacher ratio.
The secretary further explained that as per the RTE Act, a headmaster is required for every 150 students in primary schools, but if there are 60 students, two teachers will be present. He noted that present headmasters are handling both teaching and administrative work.
Regarding Atmanand schools, he clarified that those on deputation are not under the purview of rationalisation, but those working as part of mergers and regular employees will be affected.