Sans B Ed and D Ed, 5 lakh school teachers may lose job in MP

Five lakh teachers in Madhya Pradesh may lose their jobs as they are teaching without a diploma in education or bachelors in education degree, a prerequisite to teach in schools under right to education (RTE).

The matter came to light during the meeting of Madhya Pradesh Private School Association held recently where delegates compiled data on teachers teaching without required qualification.

The RTE Act, which came into force in April 2010, makes it mandatory for all private schools to seek state government’s recognition, which is renewable every three years. Institutions failing to obtain the certificate can be deemed derecognised. Heavy fines can also be slapped on them under provisions of the Act.

To secure recognition a school must comply with 10 norms under the RTE Act, including the minimum qualification for a teacher (diploma in education or bachelors in education degree).

Private School Association to submit a memo to state MPs

The Private School Association is planning to submit a memorandum of demands to state MPs by the first week of May requesting them to consider teachers, who have three years teaching experience as ‘trained’, and not shunt them away.

“According to our research, there is already a shortage of about 53,000 teachers in the state. If 5 lakh teachers are forced to leave their jobs, how will the schools operate? Moreover, how will these teachers live if their bread and butter are snatched?” said PSA secretary Ajeet Singh.

It is not possible for these teachers to teach anymore: DEO

Meanwhile, district education officer (DEO), Dharmendra Sharma said it was not possible for these teachers to teach anymore. “RTE norms have to be strictly followed in schools. We are not even renewing the recognition for schools if RTE norms are not met and being D Ed or B Ed is the minimum qualification for a teacher as per the RTE rules. So if these qualifications are not found then it is possible that the recognition of such schools will be cancelled.”

“Many of these teachers did apply for D Ed and B Ed, but it is very unfortunate that their applications were made to disappear by some powerful stakeholders. If they are forced by the schools to resign from their jobs then we will not only approach the CM, but will also meet Union education minister to find a way out,” said state head of Private School Association HK Shukla.